COLUMBUS, OH – Eighteen new state watercraft officers were among the 48 peace officer cadets who graduated today from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft.

“We are proud and very happy to offer these eighteen men and women our congratulations on a job well done in completing their training,” said Pamela Dillon, chief of the division.

During the 18-week academy, the watercraft cadets were trained in physical fitness, self-defense and various law enforcement activities. On June 10, these three women and fifteen men will begin six weeks of additional specialized instruction by Division of Watercraft staff in natural resources procedures and policy, watercraft investigation and boat handling. By July 21, they will begin their respective assignments, patrolling Ohio waterways and presenting boating safety programs throughout the state.

The newly graduated Ohio watercraft officers are: Darren Barnett of New London, Jason Beard of Columbus, Valerie Cox of Pataskala, Jeffrey Cramer of Findlay, Randy Feesler of Norton, Ryan Futo of Cleveland, Jason Gantt of Yellow Springs, Walter Hodgkiss of Southington, Seth Lamb of Huntington, Dustin Majewski of Painesville, Kevin Peters of Spencerville, Dawn Potter of Columbus, Michael Roeger of Dayton, Jared Thomas of Parma, Ryan Trout of Frazeysburg, Kevin Tschantz of Columbus, Tammy Jo Vanderwall of Canton and Jason Wallace of Lewisburg.