------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Changing Times

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toledo, Ohio Monday, June 30, 2003 five cents

________________________________________________________________________________________

Ohio State Highway Patrol Turns 70

It was seventy years ago today developments through the years. visible white at the start of his
that the Ohio State Highway Patrol They have had to overcome career as colonel. The change of
was founded. Men of all kinds were obstacles dealing with racial the color of the fleet was in
sent to Camp Perry in Ottowa profiling, officer safety, and celebration of the 70th
county to be the first great Ohio national security. The strides they anniversary of the Patrol and to
state patrolmen. They established have made to make the state a ensure the patrolmen were as safe
and set the standard for the great better place deserves applause and as possible with the best
institution we have today. The recognition on this day, the 70th equipment suited for their needs.
patrol was founded to enforce anniversary of its creation. Additionally, this year the Ohio
state laws and regulations State Patrol added a new Amber
regarding motor vehicles, motor Colonel Morckel Alert Program to alert the public of
vehicle operation, and laws to missing children in the area. This
ensure the protection of highways. Retires, Promising new system uses law enforcement
Today these values are still upheld and the media combined to notify
and have expanded to include
New Colonel takes the public more effectively of
numerous new responsibilities. the Reigns missing children.
____________________________________ ____________________________________
On January 10, 2003, Colonel
Morckel retired and Lieutenant
Colonel Paul D. McClellan became
the 14th superintendent.
According to the Ohio State
Patrols records, Prior to his
promotion to colonel, [Colonel
McClellan] managed all operational
aspects of the Patrol for the entire
state (Pierson 10). Well-qualified
Camp Perry lieutenants on Nov. 15, and eager to take the position, he
1933 quickly began to make great
___________________________________ changes as Colonel. Since his
Now the Ohio State Highway Patrol induction, McClellan has altered Colonel Paul D. McClellan
has grown to include, and be the structure of the patrol to ___________________________________
primarily concerned with criminal improve issues of safety, Amber Perhaps the most noteworthy of
patrol, investigations, and the Alert effectiveness, driver his achievements this year is
education of the citizens about the education, and the reduction of Colonel McClellans development
dangers of impaired driving. The traffic crash deaths. of Lifestat 1.0. According to the
troopers have made many changes With the primary concern of Ohio State Patrol Website, The
and new officer safety, the motor vehicle program... called for troopers to
color of the patrol was changed make as much contact as possible
from charcoal gray to a more with motorists to
educate them and encourage
changing dangerous driving
behavior (Ohio State Highway
Patrol 2000s 110). Since the start
of the program, troopers have not
only made it their mission to
educate the public, but they have
also been making more of an effort
to analyze data about fatal crashes
and make predictions about where
they need to be and when, to
prevent future crashes.
Colonel McClellan is making many
great changes to the Patrol and
continues to do so. According to
The Ohio State Highway Patrols
website, McClellan states, I
wanted to make a difference. I
realized that I was part of
something a lot larger than myself
and really embraced that notion. I
always tried to just do the very
best that I could (Ohio State
Highway Patrol Colonels, 8).
McClellan holds within him a
promising future for the Ohio State
Patrol. His motivation to improve
and make a bigger impact on the
community inspires the men under
him to make a difference in the
state of Ohio. The spirit they carry
with them on the road, makes Ohio
a safer place and a leader for other
State Patrol institutions.