University College alumnus Justin Cox joins Reynoldsburg Police

Justin Cox earned his associate degree in applied science through the Law Enforcement Technology Program (LET) at Ohio University Lancaster in 2020 and has begun work toward a Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree. In early June he was sworn in as a police officer with the Reynoldsburg Division of Police and is now enrolled in the Columbus Police Academy. Cox will take some time off from the pursuit of his criminal justice degree while he devotes his attention to police academy training, but he plans to resume work on his bachelor’s degree after graduating from the academy in January.

According to Cox, his police academy training will cover Ohio Revised Code, fourth amendment rights and responsibilities, defensive driving, hand-to-hand combat, and simulations that prepare police officers to respond appropriately in challenging situations. He will fulfill state required hours to become a police officer during his training at Columbus Police Academy. As he embarks on his training at the police academy, Cox feels confident and well-prepared thanks to Ohio University courses like constitutional law and multicultural policing.

During his initial days of on-the-job training Cox rode along with veteran Reynoldsburg police officers as they responded to calls for property destruction, auto accidents with injuries, and public disturbances, often caused by people under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Although Cox initially planned to study biomedical engineering in college, law enforcement careers run in his family and seemed a natural fit for him as well. “It’s a very important job,” he said. “As a law enforcement officer, you’re a public servant. My father, step-mom, uncle, and grandfather were all in law enforcement, so I was always exposed to it.” He also had a very personal motivation to enter law enforcement. His brother died of an accidental drug overdose. “I wanted to get dirty drugs off the street,” Cox explained. “The best way to do that is be a patrol officer.”

Cox said he also had lifelong aspirations to serve in the military. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Ohio National Guard where he has served for the last three years. Not only has the National Guard paid for his college education thus far, but it gave him experiences that prepared him for a career in law enforcement. In the past year Cox’s National Guard service exposed him to multiple aspects of law enforcement when he served as a correctional officer at the Marion Correctional Institution for a month, was involved in the response to protests in Columbus, and traveled to Washington, D.C. with the National Guard after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

He attended University of Cincinnati for one semester before deciding it was not the right fit for him and moving back to the Lancaster area. Cox then visited Ohio University Lancaster and met with Dr. Jennifer Steele and Lisa Taylor, two faculty members who teach courses in the Law Enforcement Technology and Criminal Justice programs. Taylor, who retired as a major from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, became an influential instructor, mentor, and adviser, according to Cox.  

“The LET program sticks with me to this day,” said Cox, explaining that the Law Enforcement Technology program at OHIO is relevant for city policing, which is the most common form of law enforcement that people coming out of high school want to pursue. He advised students who are considering a degree in law enforcement technology or criminal justice to focus on the knowledge and experience professors have to offer and make valuable connections in the field that will allow them to make a positive impact in the lives of the people they serve. “You are going to be able to help people,” he said. “You have an opportunity to make a big impact on people at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.”

Cox noted that many police departments and law enforcement agencies require or encourage four-year degrees for individuals seeking leadership roles. He has federal law enforcement aspirations and says the combination of the experience he will gain as a police officer, coupled with the bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, will help prepare him to attain his goal of becoming a U.S. Marshall.