Zaki Hazou, Legal Instructor, for Blue to Gold Law Enforcement Training, brings a strong blend of legal and policy education, investigative experience, and academy instruction to his work training law enforcement officers. He holds two graduate degrees: a Master of Legal Studies with a concentration in criminal law from the Cleveland State University College of Law and a Master of Public Administration with concentration in criminal justice administration and policy from The Ohio State University. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies from Kent State University. Zaki is an Ohio certified peace officer, grounding his instruction in practical policing experience.
Zaki currently serves as a detective with the Strongsville Police Department, where he conducts complex criminal investigations, prepares affidavits, search warrants, subpoenas, and arrest warrants, and works closely with prosecutors to prepare cases for court. Earlier in his career, he served nearly a decade as a patrol officer, during which he conducted both basic and advanced legal training for department personnel and instructed citizen academy courses on laws of arrest and search and seizure. His daily investigative responsibilities give him direct insight into how Fourth Amendment principles are applied and reviewed in real cases.
In addition to his law enforcement duties, Zaki is an instructor at Polaris Career Center, where he provides state approved academy instruction and develops lesson plans to meet Ohio training standards. He is a certified police instructor in procedural justice, domestic violence, and legal topics, and is well versed in Fourth Amendment jurisprudence. His background also includes military service as an operations sergeant and linguist, further strengthening his communication and instructional skills. Agencies value his clear teaching style, academic depth, and practical approach to constitutional policing.
