Independence Police Department
July 2023 Agency of the Month
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“The Community Relations and Engagement Committee of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police is pleased to recognize Independence Police Department as the July, 2023 Agency of the Month for the Sharing Ohio’s Best” program! We congratulate Chief Robert Butler and his team for a job well done! IPD clearly has demonstrated a strong desire to work alongside their community to provide safety, education, and opportunities for future team building amongst their citizens. Through the variety of ideas, they have implemented, they have connected to a variety of age groups, and areas of their city. Congratulations!”
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The Independence Police Department is proud of its relationship with the community they serve, including businesses, schools, residents and all that travel through the “Heart of Cuyahoga County”. Below are just a few of the programs offered: | |
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SAFETY TOWN
Safety Town is a 2-week program that helps teach children who are about to enter kindergarten many safety lessons. The School Resource Officers along with a certified teacher cover various topics including car, bus, and bicycle safety, stranger Danger, use of 911, interaction with police officers, fire safety, pool safety and electrical safety. Along with tours of the fire station, police station, community pool and riding the bus each student receives a bike helmet and a coupon for a free ice cream cone.
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BUISNESS LIASON
An officer stops into businesses to try and build relationships along with updating contact information in case of emergencies. This officer will also speak with employees about how to respond to active shooters and other safety issues.
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SHOP WITH A COP
Each year our officers along with other neighboring communities participate in shop with a cop program. Officers raise money with help from local businesses and take children in need shopping for Christmas. Along with shopping children get breakfast, a pizza lunch and most important of all get to ride in a police car and use the lights and sirens while travelling to and from Christmas shopping.
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BIKE PATROL
Officers with our Bike Unit engage in patrol throughout the city, especially the business district and park. These officers also help make patrolling parades, fireworks, and home day events easier.
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FREE BYCYCLE HELMET PROGRAM
Independence Police offer free bicycle helmets to children of Independence residents. These helmets are for anyone under 18 years old and come in multiple sizes. Officers love to issue free ice cream cone coupons to children wearing these bicycle helmets.
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FEMALE JOGGER SAFETY & SELF DEFENSE
Officers speak with students and women about pre-jogging decisions, what to bring when jogging, suspicious people, basic self-defense to go along with some hands-on training.
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K-9 DEMONSTRATIONS
Independence has 2 police canines. K-9 Argo and K-9 Rambo. These dogs are trained in narcotics, tracking, building searches, article searches and apprehension. In addition, these officers and K-9’s often engage with different organizations in our community to help educate them on the handling and purpose of the police K-9. During these demos adults and children can pet and take pictures with the K-9’s.
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HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREATING
On Halloween officers are out in the community passing out candy and ensuring the trick-or-treaters have a safe night. Officers also hand out blue glow bracelets for our cities little trick-or-treaters.
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VIPS
Once a month this group of residents gather for a meeting and special guest speaker. During these monthly meeting they are instructed on various topics including domestic violence, task force officer duties, OVI, and human trafficking. Along with these monthly meetings members of our VIPS team assist officers at the city’s home days, fireworks, parades and other community events.
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SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
Independence Police use social media to alert the public of various events, traffic conditions, upcoming construction, tips to avoid scams and pictures of officers in action.
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INDEPENDENCE SCHOOLS
Independence Police has 2 dedicated Uniformed officers assigned to cover 3 Schools: one elementary school (grades pre-k 4), one middle school (grades 5-8) and one high school (grades 9-12). These officers are responsible for not only regular walk throughs but also participate in and develop programs for students. Below are a few of these programs:
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RIGHT TO READ
Each year during right to read week officers act as celebrity readers for our primary school students. Normally these students must guess what kind of occupation the celebrity readers have, but unfortunately our uniforms make that too easy.
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VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT
Our resident gamer, Chief Butler, participates yearly in the middle school video game tournaments with 5-8 grade students.
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MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
During National Police week officers take turns co-hosting morning announcements with 8th grade students.
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TEENAGE DRIVING PROGRAM
School resource officers help teach teenage drivers about the dangers of driving. The class covers teenage driving restrictions, OVI laws, road rage, how to react in certain driving situations (bus stops, funeral processions, malfunctioning traffic lights, etc..). The students also participate in mock traffic stops, and field sobriety tests.
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WORK OUT PROGRAMS
School Resource Officers created a workout program for students and staff. These 30–45-minute workouts promote healthy living and bring everyone together.
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ALICE TRAININGS
Officers trained in ALICE teach School employees and students how to be safe. Officers and teachers practice yearly drills to help them prepare for an emergency.
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OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Officers armed with stuffed animals (for children in crisis) and ice cream coupons (awarded to children spotted wearing a bike helmet) help our officers connect with children of the community. Independence Police continue to encourage children to run to the police for help, not away from us. These tools provide additional methods for our officers to develop positive relationships within our community.
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ATTENTION OACP MEMBERS:
We want YOU to submit your story; best community policing ideas!
- We are here to help share the good things happening in Ohio’s law enforcement agencies with one another and in local media!
- OACP Member agencies are then eligible to receive a small grant to help keep your community policing ideas moving in the right direction!
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