Richmond Heights Division of Police named ‘Agency of the Month’

The Richmond Heights Division of Police was recently named the July 2020 “Agency of the Month” for their outstanding community policing efforts.

In 2019, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Law Enforcement Foundation

began a new program named “Sharing Ohio’s Best” to help bring awareness to the work that agencies do all over Ohio to promote positive policing, according to a news release.

The Community Relations and Engagement Committee compiles submissions from agencies and selects one each month to be recognized. Typically, the committee focuses on creativity and how the program impacts the individual community, the release stated. Recent programs that have been recognized include a teen driving course, programs to help the disabled, and programs focusing on community safety. The Richmond Heights department has made youth outreach particularly in the schools a primary focus, the release stated.

They have developed four youth outreach programs that have made a significant impact.

“These innovative approaches are building bridges of trust with their young customers and families,” the release stated. “These special programs can be used as a template or guide for police departments throughout not only Ohio but the entire country.”

The four youth programs are: Cop Scouts; Teen Ambassador

Club; Tip our badge for Academic Excellence Award; and school art competition. The Richmond Heights department is staffed by 22 full-time police officers, one part-time officer and three records clerks. The department is part of the regional Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network Unit.