Euclid Police Highlights for 2018
The Euclid Police Department engaged in many activities in 2018 including community events in crime prevention and safety, training for officers, and recognition by awards! The department received the AAA Platinum Award for the third straight year for showing sustainability and growth in traffic education and enforcement, Community Education Specialist Ed Bonchak received an award for 25 years of D.A.R.E., Community Policing Specialist Kate McLaughlin received the Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year from the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, and Detective Orlando Almonte received recognition from National HIDTA as he is a member of DEA Cleveland which successfully dismantled a distribution network and drug trafficking organization from Mexico through Operation Scorpion Strike. Within the department, Detective David Olszewski was named Officer of the Year, Thomas Yanacek was named Employee of the Year, Officer John Foran received the OVI Ribbon, and Exceptional Service was awarded to Detective Susan Schmid and Officer Chris Frato.
Euclid Officers received thousands of hours of training in 2018. Some highlights include department personnel receiving Procedural Justice for Law Enforcement through the U.S. Department of Justice, verbal de-escalation techniques, homeless and missing youth awareness, agonal breathing recognition as well as a variety of investigative, enforcement, first aid, and supervisor leadership training such as Sgt. Donna Holden’s training where she completed the Public Safety Leadership Academy through the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The specialized curriculum of this 11 week course includes content in the areas of leadership and ethics; interpersonal and organizational communication; public management and budgeting; organizational theory; human resources management; and organizational behavior in law enforcement.
Euclid Police are involved in many self-initiated activities along with community organized activities throughout the year. After a child was struck and killed in Euclid, the EPD decided to give our youngest pedestrians a challenge using an obstacle course at the East 200 Street Stroll. The children played a question and answer game with questions related to pedestrian safety. Whether the child answered right or wrong – they were given a challenge. Most kids went through twice to get all answers right!
In June, leaders from the Euclid community learned what it is like to be a police officer for a day. A presentation and then hands-on scenarios of crime incidents and traffic stops help them understand the pressures of decision making for officers. Also during summer, EPD offered Safety Town, Junior Police Academy and PAL Soccer Camp while PAL Basketball was held in the winter.
2018 also included many interesting moments such as officers riding bicycles for July 4th neighborhood parades and riding during the Critical Mass bicycle event, Officer Aoki building a temporary wheelchair ramp for a resident whose metal ramp was stolen, celebrating crossing guard Frank Macuga, enjoying National Night Out at Sidney and E 276th Street Park, reaching out to apartment residents with messages of crime prevention and safety, and delivering toys to children and families in need during the holidays.
Euclid Police Department is up to the challenge of making 2019 as good as, if not better than 2018! Residents can follow us on Facebook and Twitter or visit our website, EuclidPD.org, to learn about upcoming EPD activities and events.
Kate McLaughlin
I am the Community Policing Specialist at the Euclid Police Department.