Devon Moss, 2025 Officer of the Year at the Marietta Police Department. (Photo provided)

MARIETTA – Marietta Police Department officer Devon Moss was recognized as the 2025 Officer of the Year recently, according to the Washington State College of Ohio. The WSCO alumnus and lifelong Marietta resident completed his Ohio Police Officer Training Academy through the college.

From there, he pursued a career in law enforcement and earned the award a few years after graduating.

“It shows that I’ve gained the trust of both my coworkers and the community,” said Moss. “In a career that can sometimes feel underappreciated, it’s reassuring to know that the work you’re doing is truly not going unnoticed.”

According to a news release from the college, Moss said he decided to remain close to home and complete the education and training required to be a law enforcement officer.

“I grew up here, so I wanted to continue my education close to home,” said Moss.

Through WSCO, he was enrolled in the Criminal Justice and the Peace Officer Basic Academy program.

Many of the instructors at WSCO in his program had law enforcement experience and were able to provide him with the necessary background and tools to aid in his training.

“Having direct access to my professors made a huge difference,” he said. “Many of them had prior experience in law enforcement and connections with local agencies, which really helped when I started looking for a job.”

According to the release, while he was at WSCO, Moss interacted with Marietta PD personnel who discussed all of the career opportunities available with the department.

“I applied right away and was offered a position before I even graduated,” he said.

Once he graduated, he completed his state required training and was officially certified to work as a police officer in Ohio.

Moss has been an officer with the department for five years and said he has acquired various skills through WSCO, the academy program, and his career.

According to the release, colleagues said some key factors in selecting Moss for the award included his diligence with removing impaired drivers from the roads.

Moss said he planned to continue serving the community and improve safety in Marietta.