MVPD Captain Graduates from Leadership Academy

MOUNT VERNON, June 23, 2022 – Mount Vernon Police Department Captain Scott McKnight graduated earlier this month from the Public Safety Leadership Academy, a program of college-level training offered in partnership with The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

Capt. McKnight was one of 30 law enforcement officers from
across the state to participate in the program, which included
officers on the municipal, county and state levels. The training
was hosted at the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Training Academy
and was offered at no cost to agencies via casino tax revenue
distributed to the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of
Criminal Justice Services to support law enforcement training.
The graduation ceremony took place in Columbus.
The 11-week course focused on developing leadership and
management skills, understanding leadership styles through
self-assessments, problem-solving, improving communication,
and developing and improving the knowledge and skills
necessary to manage and direct any division within a law
enforcement agency.

Each of the participants had to complete a Capstone project.
Capt. McKnight’s project focused on leadership training,
professionalism and establishing police officers as leaders,
and explored how to deliver these qualities from a servant
leadership perspective.
The program is designed to help participants develop the skills
necessary to manage any division within a law enforcement
agency, demonstrate their preparedness for additional
leadership responsibilities and improve the administration of
justice.

Graduates had the opportunity to meet with executive law enforcement officials to discuss how to
build positive relationships and deal with challenges in the field. Graduates also attended classes
on overcoming the unique mental stressors of possible violence and best practices for law
enforcement managers who deal with employees struggling with addiction issues.