The following is a press release from the Urbana Police Division regarding their newest officer, 22-year-old Jackson Bennett:
On January 16, 2026, Urbana’s newest police officer, Jackson Bennett, graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s 153rd Basic Peace Officer Academy. The graduation ceremony was held at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus, Ohio. Bennett was one of 48 members of the graduating class. Bennett, who was hired by the Urbana Police Division in August of 2025, has been attending the 21-week academy since August 25, 2025.
During Bennett’s academy, he was trained on many different topics, laws and qualifications, including: community relations, constitutional laws, criminal laws, criminal investigation techniques, emergency vehicle operations, OVI investigations, traffic laws, traffic crash investigations, self-defense techniques, weapons qualifications, arrest search & seizure, in addition to much more.
Along with Bennett’s family, Lieutenant Josh Jacobs and Sergeant Jason Kizer were on hand to witness the graduation ceremony. Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson was the keynote speaker.
Bennett, 22-years-old and a 2022 graduate of Jonathan Alder High School, will begin his 12-week field training program with the police division this week. Once Bennett completes his field training program, he will be given a regular patrol shift assignment.
