MARTINS FERRY — The Martins Ferry Police Department is in need of a good man or woman to become a law enforcement officer.

According to Chief John McFarland, although the department recently held a Civil Service test for potential employees, it has exhausted its list of available personnel and still has one opening to fill.

“With the help of the city attorney, the Civil (Service) Commission and Mayor (John) Davies, we will be accepting applications for Lateral Transfers,” McFarland wrote in an email. “We will accept applications from anyone who is OPOTA certified with at least one year full-time or part-time experience.”

OPOTA certification is achieved through the Ohio Peace Officer Training based in London, Ohio, wth an additional campus in Richfield, Ohio. The academy prepares candidates to become peace officers, private security, local corrections personnel, jail personnel, K-9 units and humane agents as well as roles such as bailiffs, probation officers and parole officers.

McFarland said he and other city officials hope that offering lateral transfers will increase the pool of candidates to become city police officers.

“(T)he decline in people who are OPOTA certified creates an issue with filling open positions,” McFarland added.

The department is just one of many entities that have exhausted its pool of employee candidates. In fact, several Belmont County law enforcement agencies employ part-time officers who hold positions in multiple communities. The Belmont County Sheriff’s Department also regularly posts announcements that it is seeking employees for a variety of positions, including staffing at the jail, custodial work, clerical work and law enforcement.

To apply for a position with the Martins Ferry Police Department, visit the headquarters at the municipal building on Fifth Street to pick up an application.