COTC Officially Opens Thomas J. Evans Hall
NEWARK, OHIO, OCT. 23, 2026 — The public safety programs at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) officially have a new home.
Thomas J. Evans Hall, a facility specifically dedicated to the college’s police academies, opened its doors on Oct. 15 with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. State and local officials — among them Congressman Troy Balderson and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) Executive Director James Cyphers — joined the celebration.
Newly renovated, the 6,500-square-foot Evans Hall provides more optimal space for COTC’s law enforcement training efforts. In addition to traditional classrooms and faculty offices, the facility includes a tactical training area, an armory and a command center. A charitable lease from the Thomas J. Evans Foundation, which bought the building that has become Evans Hall, has made such a significant enhancement possible. The transformation represents a more than $3 million investment, accumulated through state capital appropriations, institutional resources from COTC and Ohio State Newark, and private philanthropy.
“It’s an investment in our students, our law enforcement partners, and the safety and well-being of the communities we serve,” said John M. Berry, PhD, COTC president.
Expansion suits these perennially successful programs. Since 2014, every single Peace Officer Basic Training (POBT) academy graduate has passed the state certification exam. The Ohio Attorney General’s office recognizes COTC as a STAR Training Center for law enforcement, honoring the college’s commitment to extraordinary preparation.
“A strong community depends on having well-trained law enforcement officers who are ready to serve and to protect,” Balderson said. “COTC meets that need right here.”
The college’s continued partnership with local agencies like the Licking County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) helps to address critical workforce needs. Agencies send their future officers through COTC’s academy with full trust this institution can equip them for a career in public service. Since 2024, the LCSO has hired 40 graduating cadets to replace retiring road deputies.
“As our region continues to grow and the demands on law enforcement evolve,” said Col. Chris Barbuto, one of dozens of COTC alumni working in the LCSO, “having a high-quality training facility right here in Licking County is an incredible asset.”
In the lobby of Evans Hall lives a plaque memorializing Thomas Cottrell, a COTC alumnus who was killed in the line of duty in 2016 while working for the Danville Police Department. Cottrell’s mother, Melissa Osborn, also spoke at the grand opening event. She encouraged students to reflect on the responsibility they assume by sporting a badge.
“My hope is that every cadet who trains here will carry Tommy's legacy with them,” Osborn said. “Not simply as a reminder of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers sometimes make, but as an inspiration to serve with courage, lead with integrity and never lose sight of the value of every human life.”
Some of those cadets led informal tours around the facility, supplying community members the chance to see for themselves the infrastructure and support offered to these future law enforcement professionals.
“COTC remains responsive to the evolving needs of our students, employers and communities,” said Andrew Guanciale, chair of the COTC Board of Trustees. “That means making thoughtful investments in programs, facilities and partnerships that will have a meaningful and lasting impact. Thomas J. Evans Hall is a perfect example of that commitment.”
