Oxford Police Department welcomes new hometown officer

Attorney Chris Conard swore in Elana Schwartz at the Oxford City Council meeting on Feb. 3, marking her transition to an official police officer.

The 22-year-old grew up in Oxford, graduated from Talawanda High School and went on to study psychology and Spanish at Miami University.

Schwartz also worked at the police department during her undergraduate years as a public safety assistant (PSA), where she issued parking citations Uptown. She got to know community members well during this time and said she enjoyed her experience.

She graduated from Miami in May 2025, then went to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus at the end of the summer.

Schwartz started the 21-week program on Aug. 25, 2025, and graduated Jan. 16. She said the program helped prepare her to be an officer and handle high-stress situations. She said it was not an easy academy to go through, and it was basically like a boot camp.

“It was pretty intense, but the training was really good,” Schwartz said. “Even in some of the most awful moments there … I'm still just kind of like, this is where I want to be.”

Schwartz came back to Oxford after she graduated from the academy and worked her first shift on Feb. 2. New officers must complete a minimum of a 14-week field training process with four phases.

Jones said the first phase requires observation and a few hands-on tasks, but there’s substantial guidance from the field training officer (FTO). 

In phase two, once a trainee is familiar with local streets and areas, they begin driving a police car around the city to feel in control of the area. They will start to take the lead in police calls more often with an FTO, signaling the start of phase three.

The fourth phase – sometimes referred to as the “check out phase” – lasts at least eight days and includes the “shadow period,” during which the FTO accompanies the trainee in the patrol vehicle while dressed in plain clothes instead of their uniform.

Each phase is purposefully designed to give the trainee the chance to work in a solo fashion. 

Jones said in many ways Schwartz is ahead in getting to know the department and city because she has great knowledge after working there as a PSA.

“With all new officers, we’re looking for them to take initiative … and develop their foundational skills of law enforcement,” Jones said. “I’m excited to see her do that.”

Schwartz expressed her gratitude to Jones and the department for believing in and supporting her since she started working with the department at 18.

“I’m really excited to get started on this adventure because it’s something that I’ve had a goal of doing for a long time,” Schwartz said at her swearing-in ceremony. “I’m just ready to get started and see what opportunities come up for me.”