Instructor
James J. Scanlon
Officer Scanlon is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement with the Columbus, Ohio, Division of Police. He has served in the various assignments of Patrol, Canine, and S.W.A.T.
Officer Scanlon is currently assigned to the Division’s full-time S.W.A.T. Section. He has served beyond his regular duties as assistant team leader, point man, team training advisor, and is one of the six assigned snipers.
In addition to his fifteen years in the S.W.A.T. Section, Officer Scanlon spent eight years patrolling high crime districts where he also served as a field training officer. Upon the Division's implementation of a Canine Unit, he served six years as a canine handler and he was chosen to be the unit's in-service trainer.
Officer Scanlon is a State of Ohio certified police instructor and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in criminal justice from Ohio Dominican College. Some of the training he has successfully completed include the FBI Sniper Course, various Advanced S.W.A.T. training courses, Dignitary Protection School, and a Canine Tactics/Trainer Course.
Officer Scanlon’s practical S.W.A.T. experience includes well over 380 hostage/barricade situations, 1,440 dynamic entries, and 730 high-risk stakeout and covert surveillance missions.
At the 2003 SWAT banquet, Officer Scanlon was voted the "SWAT Officer of the Year". This is a very prestigious award given to him by his peers.
Assignments:
Police Officer: From: To:
Entered service April 2, 1978
Patrol Bureau September 1978 1986
S.W.A.T. Section 1986 1992
Canine Unit 1992 1998
S.W.A.T. Section April 1998 Present
Awards:
2003 SWAT Officer of the Year Exceptional performance
2003 Silver Star Actions beyond the call of duty
2002 Special Commendation On-view aggravated robbery arrests
2001 City Council Achievement
Award
for an outstanding
pattern
of police work
2000 Silver Star Actions beyond the call of duty
1992 Special Commendation Creation of the Canine Unit
1988 Special Commendation On-view aggravated robbery arrests
1987 Blue Star Medal Serious injury in the line of duty
1985 Outstanding Honor
Guard
Officer of the Year
1983 Medal of Merit Investigation/arrest of a rapist
1982 Special Commendation On-view aggravated robbery arrest
1982 I.A.C.P. Top 10 Honorable
Mention
Officer of the Year
1980 Special Commendation On-view aggravated robbery arrests
Professional Training: Date Instruction Provided By:
Police Recruit Training 1978 Columbus Police
Officer Survival 1982 Columbus Police
Basic S.W.A.T. Course 1983 Columbus Police
Advanced S.W.A.T. Course 1988 Los Angeles County Sheriff
Tactical Response Teams 1989 Midwest Tactical Training
Advanced SWAT Course 1991 Columbus Police
Dignitary Protection School 1991 United States Secret Service
Canine Handler/Trainer Course 1992 Gold Shield Training Kennels
Narcotics Interdiction Course 1992 Drug Enforcement Administration
Patrol/Narcotics
Canine
Workshop
1994 N.A.P.W.D.A.
S.W.A.T. Officer Certification 1998 Columbus Police S.W.A.T.
Sniper Course/Certification 1998 Columbus Police S.W.A.T.
Sniper Course/Certification 1999 Federal Bureau of Investigation
Instructor Development Course 2000 Ohio Peace Officer Academy
Formal Education:
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Criminal
Justice
1982 Ohio Dominican
College