Behavior Improvement Program Parent Connection Teen Police Academy Police Mountain Bike Patrol Fatal Vision Goggles Bike Rodeo Child Fingerprinting Child Safety Seat Inspections Career Shadowing Civilian Fingerprinting	Auxiliary Bike Patrol Safety Town Safety Pup Community Police Academy Community Service Officers Home Firearm Safety Course Eddie Eagle Firearm SafetyCourse R U OK? One Tough Computer Cop Police Internships
Rape Aggression Defense Systems-Basic Self Defensel

The 15^th Community Police Academy was held in February 2004.  Lt. William Eschenfelder directs the Academy, which was established in 1996.  The Academy is open to residents and/or people employed in the city, and runs for 12 weeks.  Students learn about police procedures from patrol officers, detectives and civilian staff members.  Hands-on instruction includes fingerprinting, operation of the radar and laser guns, driving a patrol car on a marked course, building searches, and pistol shooting in the Westlake Police Department range.  The class has been so well received that its students consistently volunteer their time to assist the police department with activities such as the Bike Rodeo, the Celebrate Westlake Race and the Party in the Park on the 4t^h of July.

A Teen Academy was offered to students who live in Westlake and attend high school.  The academy is a 7-week course that is held on Saturdays for 2 hours a session.  Students are given an insider's look at the Police Department. In doing so, better relations between police officers and adolescents can be fostered.

Detective Tim Tolaro is the designated departmental computer forensic officer and computer crime expert.  Detective Tolaro has received extensive Federal training in computer crimes.  A free computer program titled One Tough Computer Cop is available to residents to examine the contents of their home computers.  Detective Tolaro gives instructional sessions on the program to parents; these seminars are held at the library. The program can detect hidden and deleted files that may be related to sex, weapons, drugs or inappropriate photographs.

Chief Walling and School Resource Officer Scott Fortkamp serve on the Cuyahoga County Family & Children First Council.  The Family & Children First Council is the county planning and policy entity for promoting collaboration between different levels of government that serve children and families in the county.

On June 26, Sgt. Robert Walling was honored as the American Legion Ohio Department's Law Officer of the Year. Sgt. Walling was honored for saving the life of a suicidal man who was standing in traffic on Interstate 90. Sgt. Walling wrestled him out of the roadway and saw to his hospitalization. The award was presented to him at the Legion's annual conference in Toledo.

Residents are encouraged to notify the Police Department when they are taking vacations so those uninhabited homes (for short or long durations) can be watched. The police department assigns officers to visit homes on the Vacation House Watch to check that the residence is safe and secure.  Residents are also encouraged to notify the Police Department when a residence will be left unoccupied during a family funeral or wedding.

Each year at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, the Police Department works with the Westlake Community Center in Delivering Food Baskets and Donating Funds to fill the baskets for needy Westlake families.  With the Police Department's help, the Westlake Assistance Program was able to help eighty-three families at Thanksgiving and ninety families at Christmas.  The food is collected throughout the City at drop off points (including the Police Department) and then sorted at the Community Center.

The Westlake Police Department also works with the Westlake Community Center with a Senior Home Check Calling Service called the "R-U-OK?" Program.  Participating senior citizens of Westlake receive a daily call to check on their welfare.  If the call is not answered, the Police Department is notified and an officer goes to the home to be sure the senior citizen is all right.

The Ride-Along Program is available to students and residents of the City of Westlake.  A rider can observe the tasks of an officer firsthand by patrolling the city for an entire or partial shift.  Officers answer questions and explain some of their duties during the ride.  In 2004, the Police Department hosted 112 civilian riders.

Adults are also offered a Home Firearms Safety Program.  This two evening class, (taught by Officer Pat Kelly) involves classroom instruction on the first night.  On the second night, the students are taken to the Police Department Range for hands-on firearms training. The students may bring their own unloaded weapon to use on the range.  The Home Firearms Safety Program was offered three times in 2004.  One of the sessions was held for “ladies only”.  Thirty people participated in the program in 2004.

Students in grades 3 through 6 are offered a hands-off gun safety class called the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program.  The program is designed to teach children what they should do if they encounter a gun: don't touch it and tell an adult.  It also reinforces the dangers of handling a weapon.  The instructor is WPD's firearm specialist Officer Pat Kelly.

The Police Department is offering a Block Watch program.  People learn how to effectively watch their neighborhood for any suspicious or illegal activities.   Everyone is safer when residents as well as the Police Department watch the neighborhood.

The R.A.D. Class (Rape Aggression Defense) is offered to women who live or work in Westlake.  The instructor, WPD Secretary Chris Schumann, is a black belt in the martial arts.  In 2004, three training sessions graduated 27 women.  The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive course for women, which begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, then progresses on to the basics of hands-on defense training. The R.A.D. system provides effective options by teaching women to take an active, responsible role in their own self-defense and psychological well-being.

The Police Department is called upon often to give talks on Summer Safety at the Westlake Recreation Center.  Such talks were given at several schools and preschools as well. Subjects covered included bicycle/helmet safety, playground safety, stranger danger, and the importance of child safety seats and seat belts.

 The WEB Task Force (Special Weapons and Tactics, a.k.a.S.W.A.T.) is comprised of specially trained officers from Westlake, Bay Village, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Lakewood and Rocky River Police Departments. Westlake Police Department has six officers who serve on the S.W.A.T. unit.  The officers participate in monthly training sessions and exercises.  In 2004, the S.W.A.T. Team was called out 7 times.

On Thursday, October 28, 2004, President George W. Bush made a campaign stop in the City of Westlake.  The President’s airplane, Air Force One landed at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.  His motorcade traveled to the Westlake Recreation Center, where the President gave a speech.  Thousands of people were in attendance.  Several days prior to the President’s visit, the Westlake Police Department worked with the Secret Service and numerous other Federal agencies to plan security for a safe visit.  From the moment that Air Force One touched down until it left again, at least one of our officers was present.  The day was a complete success. Then National Security Advisor (now Secretary of State) Dr. Condoleeza Rice also visited Westlake when she spoke to the City Club of Cleveland at La Centre. Her October 15, 2004 visit was well received and without incident. Even the protestors present at both events commented on the reasonableness of the police presence and their ability to present their viewpoints.

The Westlake Police Department continues to have a very successful D.A.R.E. program in the city's public and private schools. Officer Ken Delfing and Officer Roseanna McCoy teach the D.A.R.E. Program.  Officer Delfing is not only working in our schools but he is also a senior D.A.R.E. mentor.  A senior D.A.R.E. mentor instructs the D.A.R.E. mentors whose responsibility it is to teach officers to instruct the D.A.R.E. program in their communities.

Each year two deserving Westlake High School seniors are awarded a D.A.R.E. Program Scholarship.  Applicants are required to write essays about staying drug and alcohol free and the benefits of staying healthy.  The D.A.R.E. officers and school officials review the essay and select the winners.

D.A.R.E. for Parents is offered to Westlake parents who are interested in learning more about the dangers that drugs and alcohol pose to their children.  Juvenile Detective Patty Weisbarth, Detectives Jim Janis and Tim Tolaro, and School Resource Officer Scott Fortkamp join D.A.R.E. Officer Ken Delfing in a fact-filled evening that includes information on laws and ordinances.

On February 26, 2004 Juvenile Detective Patty Weisbarth and School Resource Officer participated in a panel discussion at Westlake High School that was hosted by the Westlake Parent Connection. The subject was teenage drinking and drug use by teenagers.  Topics included inhalant abuse (huffing), sexual activity among teens and appropriate sex education, the penalties for those who host drug and alcohol parties, curfew, cigarette smoking, and other issues of concern to parents.

With the addition of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle to the Department's fleet, Officer Jeff Hernandez and Sgt. Mark Krumheuer have the opportunity to patrol our City in yet a different fashion.  The Motorcycle Patrol enables these officers to be in places where a patrol car cannot go.  Officer Hernandez participated in the Cops & Kids Motorcycle Toy Run along with various City Parades.

The Westlake Police Department has specially trained sworn and auxiliary officers to perform their duties with the Bicycle Patrol Unit.  The Bicycle Patrol Unit is led by Lt. Ray Arcuri and can also go places in the city where patrol cars cannot.  The Bicycle Patrol Unit can interact with neighborhood residents in a way that an officer in a patrol car often cannot.  The Bicycle Patrol Unit also recognizes children using bike helmets by presenting them with certificates from the AAA Helmet Smart Bicycle Program.

The Bicycle Patrol Unit patrols at full strength on Halloween night.  The officers are assigned to the residential areas during the "trick or treat" hours.  They provide the children with night reflective bags and cycle through the neighborhoods providing protection to the children and increase the awareness to the motoring public. They also bike around the school buildings on the last day of classes to discourage excessive rowdiness.

The Westlake Police Department has four Community Service Officers (CSOs): K. Rodney Stemen, Anna Cavender, Larry Fischbach, and Von Crossland.  These four part-time CSOs are invaluable to the Westlake Police Department.  They assist with traffic control, vehicle lockouts, disabled vehicles, check child safety seats, and patrol our streets. In doing so, sworn officers are more able to concentrate on traffic enforcement and deterring crime.

CSOs Stemen and Cavender work with the National Child Safety Council's "Safety Pup" Program that teaches young children safety and drug education. Part of the program entails their wearing our Safety Pup costume to reinforce the lessons learned.

Students from the local high schools are welcome to spend time at the Police Department as part of a Career Shadowing Program as well as the O.W.E. Program (Occupational Work Experience Program). The period of time can be one day or several as arranged with the school.  Students have spent time with the patrol officers out on the road, the detectives in the Detective Bureau, the dispatchers in the Communication Center as well as the Animal Control Officer chasing the occasional stray animal.  In 2004, two college students served internships to complete their degree requirements.

The Westlake Police Department can provide referrals for Conflict Resolution.  Police refer minor matters such as neighbor and property line disputes or parent/child conflicts to a trained mediator. Both parties then try to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Juveniles who have gotten into trouble with the law have the opportunity (on their first offense) to appear before a magistrate from the Community Diversion Program.

The program is designed to allow the first time offenders who admit their transgression to "work off" their sentence by community service, essay writing on the dangers of their delinquent behavior, or counseling for a variety of problems.  Upon completion of the sentence, the offense is "forgiven".  In 2004, the four volunteer Magistrates saw 66 juveniles.

The Bike Rodeo is offered to elementary school children to emphasize safe bicycle riding.  Police Officers set up bicycle riding courses and prizes are given to all participants. The grand prize (a new bike) is raffled off among all the bike riders.

The Westlake Safety Town continues a 30+-year tradition of educating children entering kindergarten about traffic safety.  Classes are offered in two-week sessions throughout June and July.  To accommodate the changing time demands of our society, one all day Saturday session is offered.  Community Service Officer Anna Cavender (Officer Anna) and Safety Town Director Olivia Schilens worked with 168 student volunteers to teach 271 pre-kindergarten children such things as crossing the street while looking "left, right and left again", safe school bus procedures, and stranger cautions.  The children visited the Fire and Police Stations for tours.  In 2004, the enrollment of students included 233 Westlake residents and 38 non-resident students including children from Virginia, Oklahoma and Massachusetts.  At the end of the Safety Town Summer, the student volunteers were all treated to a pool and pizza party at Clague Park.

The Westlake Police Department has several officers and civilian personnel trained to participate in the Civilian Fingerprint Program.  Any resident of Westlake or anyone working in Westlake (or applying for a job in Westlake) can be fingerprinted for a number of reasons, including licensing, employment requirements, child care, parochial school staff and volunteers who work with children, senior caregivers, and as a requirement to entering many post graduate schools.    There is no charge for this service, but the person being printed is required to have proof of identity and supply his or her own fingerprint card.  A total of 589 people were fingerprinted at the Westlake Police Department for these purposes in 2004.

Fingerprinting is also one of the skills taught to Boy Scouts for Merit Badges along with photography, first aid and CPR.

Several times throughout 2004, the Police Department was asked to do fingerprinting as part of the Child Safety Fingerprinting Program.  Officers and trained civilian personnel went to the Regal Movie Theater, St. John Westshore Hospital's New Emergency Room Dedication, Holly Lane School, and the Harvest for Hunger rally, the Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA, and other locations.

The Police Department in May 2004 once again kicked off the None for 21 anti-drinking campaign in conjunction with Prom Night. Letters are sent to the area merchants and hoteliers, reminding them that Westlake Police Department does not tolerate underage drinking or sales to minors at any time.

School Resource Officer Scott Fortkamp and Officer Ken Delfing gave Fatal Vision Demonstrations to the high school students.  The Fatal Vision glasses, when worn, show how vision impairment affects coordination when a person is under the influence.

Chief Walling participated in a panel for a Beginning Drivers Seminar by Drive Team at Westlake High School for parents and teens in March of 2004.

The Westlake Police Department lends out traffic cones to assist parents in teaching driving skills to their children and also to various block parties to close roads, thus providing a greater degree of safety to those present.  In 2004, traffic cones were lent out to the community 55 times.

The Police Department also conducts Compliance Checks on our community's stores, using high school students to check on cigarette sales to minors.

Officer Jason Carmen visited many businesses and banking institutions in Westlake giving Crime Prevention Programs.  Many organizations and committees were given Safety Talks.

Throughout the year officers participated in setting up DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Traffic Details and Seat Belt Details.

The Westlake Police Department sets up details for the Neighborhood Speed Watch Programs, and other traffic infractions at the request of local residents.

The Police Department maintains two Speed Command Alert Trailers (SCAT) that are placed throughout the city.  The SCAT trailers flash the speed that a vehicle is traveling as the vehicle approaches it.  Residents are encouraged to request the SCAT trailer be set up in areas where violations are frequent.  The SCAT trailers were placed around the community 167 times in 2004.

Officer Scott Fortkamp was appointed in 2001 to be the School Resource Officer at Westlake High School.  Officer Fortkamp has an office at the high school and has an open door policy for all students and staff. He also conducts a Behavior Improvement Program and is constantly seen walking the halls and visiting the classrooms talking to the students.  Officer Fortkamp also attends after school activities such as dances and sports events.  His presence at the high school has had a positive effect at the school as well as the perception of the police by the students.

In 2004, Officer Ken Delfing was appointed the School Resource Officer at Lee Burneson Middle School.  Officer Delfing provides the same services to the middle school students as are offered at the high school.

Captain Turner and Officer Fortkamp participated in the Professional Development Day at Lee Burneson Middle School in March of 2004. For the last several years, these officers make presentations on safety topics of concerns to the school staff.

In October 2004, Officer Fortkamp chaperoned 100 Westlake High School students at the Youth Leadership Camp.

Several Officers participated at the Westlake High School and Parkside Middle School Career Days.  They were available to talk to students that showed an interest in law enforcement as a profession.

The Auxiliary Police Force of the Westlake Police Department has 22 active members. The Auxiliary continues to assist the sworn Police Officers with tasks such as traffic control, civic events and parades, weather-related emergencies, and also conduct a nightly Park Patrol of our City's parks, schools, and municipal facilities.

Police Station tours are available to interested groups of people including nursery school classes, scout troops and high school students.

Officers participated in several fairs in 2004.  Invitations to attend Health and Safety Fairs at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, John Lance Ford, Five Seasons Country Club, the YMCA, the Promenade of Westlake Shopping Center's Kids Day and St. John Westshore Hospital's Play It Safe Family Fair were accepted.  St. Bernadette's School called on the Police Department to help judge entries at their Science Fair.   Officers participated as judges at the Senior Center's Cake Baking Contest.

Officers were also present at the Ohio Motorists Safety Foundation's Mature Lifestyles Exhibition at the IX Center.  Westgate and Parmatown Malls hosted Safety Forces Expos and the Westlake Police Department was there.

Captain Guy Turner visited Porter Library again in 2004 to read in April during National Library Week for an evening titled "Read to Your Heroes Family Story Time".

Patrol Officers as well as Bike Patrol Officers and Floppy visited several Neighborhood Block Parties during the summer of 2004.  Tasks such as leading bike parades, blocking off traffic and visits from Safety Pup were typical.

Several community events were run in 2004 with the help of the Police Department.  The Celebrate Westlake Race, Annual Easter Egg Hunt, K-Mart's Kids Race Against Drugs and St. Bernadette's 5K Race are all run with the assistance of this Police Department.

Chief Walling was adopted by a third grade class at the Westlake Christian Academy and visited the class several times throughout the year, including the May 1^st National Day of Prayer.  Captain Turner attended the Church on the Rise celebration of the same event. Captain Turner also attended the annual MADD Vigil at the Church on the Rise in December.

Several members of the Westlake Police Department attended classes and can now check the installation of Child Safety Seats.  Anyone from any community can come to the Westlake Police Department to have their child's safety seat inspected.   The Police Department inspected 270 child seat installations in 2004.  This department also participated in the NewsChannel 5's National Child Passenger Safety Week and the Operation ABC Mobilization (America Buckles Up Children).

In 2004, K-9 Officer Floppy and his assistant Officer Dennis Funari made numerous visits to schools, organizations, businesses and neighborhood block parties to conduct familiarization and demonstrations.  Floppy and Officer Funari also participate in weekly training sessions with the other K-9 teams in the area. On the business side, Floppy was used 177 times in police matters in Westlake and surrounding communities.

Officer Pat Kelly and Officer Jason Carman conducted Bomb Threat Trainings for businesses in the community.

The Coats for Kids Campaign brought in 290 coats, 49 hats, 48 pairs of gloves or mittens, 4 scarves, 5 sweaters, 6 pairs of socks and 1 pair of shoes in November and December with the help of the Westlake Schools Transportation Department.

The Westlake Police Department also served as a drop off point for Food Collection drives throughout the year.  The Police Department also Collects Unwanted Cell Phones that are turned over to the Westlake Community Center to provide senior citizens a cell phone that can dial 911 for help.

The Westlake Police Department’s jail donated 8 used mattresses to St. Joseph’s Shelter in Lorain.

In May 2004, the Westlake Police Department offered a ride-along for the lucky high bidder at the USO Military Ball.  In the thank you for participating letter that was sent by the USO, it was learned that the Westlake Police Department was the only Police Department that contributed to the charity affair.

In April, 2004 the Westlake Kiwanis Club requested the Westlake Police Department’s cooperation in promotion and distribution of a statewide child ID DNA project.  The Kiwanis was invited to set up a table at the annual Bike Rodeo.  Several ID DNA kits were distributed to interested parents.

The Westlake Police Department takes every opportunity possible to recognize human excellence:

Each year the sworn officers are asked to vote for their choice for Officer of the Year.  In 2004 his peers chose Officer John Jereb.  While off duty, Officer Jereb interrupted suspects breaking into cars, helped arrest another suspect trying to steal a vehicle, and performed other praiseworthy duties.

On March 3, 2004 a very surprised young man named Bobby Testa received a surprise visit from Officer Casey Carty at his home.  Officer Carty was delivering a letter from Chief Walling that commended Bobby for his honesty and citizenship. Bobby had found a wallet and turned it over to the Police Department even though he could have kept the money that was in the wallet.