Patrol dispatches new troopers in war on drugs, human trafficking – The Columbus Dispatch

Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch @RandyLudlow

They marched into the State Highway Patrol Academy gymnasium in their dress uniforms, proclaiming in cadence, "Hail, hail State Patrol."

Minutes before raising their hands and being sworn in at their graduation, 85 cadets-turning-troopers were briefed on their mission.

Gone are the days, said Gov. John Kasich, when troopers spent most of their time sitting alongside highways handing out speeding tickets.

While still ensuring highway safety, the patrol is more focused these days on the interdiction of drugs and humans.

Public Safety Director John Born talked of a trooper's seizure of 2.2 pounds of the deadly opioid fetanyl 50 times as strong as heroin in an I-70 traffic stop, enough to kill more than 300,000 people.

Kasich talked of a trooper rescuing two frightened human-trafficking victims huddled in the back of a dark truck at a rest stop.

The cadets were dispersed to patrol posts throughout the state today to begin their careers as troopers after 23 weeks of training, including recognizing signs that may signal when motorists are packing illegal drugs.

The patrol has intensified its focus in intercepting drugs during the past six years, resulting in record seizures last year. Ohio led the nation with 3,050 drug-overdose deaths in 2015.

"There's a war in this state," Kasich proclaimed of the patrol's "dramatic change in mission."

The governor told the audience of hundreds that he hopes drug cartels and dealers are learning "Ohio may crush you" if they use the state's highways to transport their "poison," particularly opioids.

Troopers made record numbers of narcotic seizures last year while working Ohio's roads.

The extent of Ohio's heroin and opioid crisis was reflected in the statistics. The patrol seized 167 pounds of heroin last year, an increase of 316 percent from 2015.

A total of 64,708 opiate pills, such as painkillers, were captured, an increase of 90 percent from 2015. Compared to prior years, methamphetamine made a huge comeback, with 95 pounds seized, a 12-fold increase over 2015.

Drug-related arrests increased 8 percent to 13,334 statewide. The patrol said the drugs it took off Ohio's highways last year carried a contraband value of nearly $55.5 million, a 63-percent increase over the prior year.

Kasich told the newly minted troopers that there's is more than simply a job, but a chance to make a difference.

The governor counseled them to be observant, to be safe and to never forget who they serve the people of Ohio.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow

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Patrol dispatches new troopers in war on drugs, human trafficking - The Columbus Dispatch