Community Policing Initiatives

The single most significant development in the evolution of modem day policing is the advent of the “Community Policing” concept of patrol. Though already an overused nebulous sounding term, this is a concept that has taken root in both urban and rural settings over the last decade.

In furtherance of this concept of engaging the community, we have incorporated several successful initiatives into our daily endeavors. Some of the more significant ones are:

Handgun Safety: We provide State Certified Firearm Instructors to provide class instruction on firearms safety, and provide gun locks to Township residents when requested.

Community Diversion: Working in conjunction with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, our Detective Bureau provides a “Juvenile Diversion Program” whereby community youth having been arrested for non-violent misdemeanor offenses (often peer related) are placed into this program. It is essentially a probation program with our Detectives in the role of probation officers. In this capacity they can and do provide the conduit between the errant youth and social service resources, such as anger management classes, drug and alcohol counseling, and parent/child mediation. The remarkable upside of this program is the fact that upon successful completion, the youth have the violation expunged, effectively providing them not only the much needed tutelage during the time period, but the reward afterward of removing what may well have proved to be a stigmatizing mark on a youths record.

Bicycle Patrol: Weather permitting; our bicycle officer patrols specific target neighborhoods, engaging residents, merchants, and children alike throughout the Township.

Partnerships with Community Groups: Striking out to engage such diverse community groups as MADD, SRAD, Olmsted Early Childhood PTA, Dara Hosta Scholarships Foundation and etc. we as a department have made clear commitments to create and foster a legitimate partnership between us and the community we serve.

Police Athletic League (PAL): Our own School Resource Officer (Jacqueline Ketterer) has implemented the Olmsted Township Police Department ‘PAL Program.” Officer Ketterer sponsors baseball teams, and is in the process of starting a flag football team.

Community Block Watch Programs: Contact Lieutenant Vanyo at 440-235-3335 or by email at ltvanyo@olmstedtownship.org