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       The Lake County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division

2007 Road Patrol Annual Report Review 
by Capt. Lonnie Sparkman

        The Lake County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division provides regular patrols to the unincorporated areas of Lake County including Concord Township, Leroy Township, Painesville Township and Perry Township.    Patrol Commander Capt. Lonnie Sparkman supervises this division comprised of 35 deputy sheriffs who provide day to day policing over approximately 88 square miles and an average population of approximately 55,000 residents.      These dedicated men and women work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year investigating crime, responding to emergencies, pro-actively implementing patrols to protect the citizens of Lake County, providing search and rescue ... serving the public needs in a caring, courteous and professional manner to ensure the highest quality of life for all people.

        The Road Patrol maintained public safety for well over 50,000 residents inside Painesville Township, Perry Township, Concord Township, and Leroy Township. These Townships cover 88 square miles, were Lake County Sheriff Office is sole police protection.

        The Road Patrol responded to 31,712 events in 2007. These events consisted of part I, part II, and misc. complaints.  The types of calls included:

  
In 2007 the Road Patrol investigated the following in each of the (4) Townships.

                                                 PART I                     PART II                     PART III
PAINESVILLE                            416                          621                             5004
CONCORD                                 207                          291                             3239
PERRY                                       155                          209                             1510
LEROY                                         43                            60                               577
TOTAL                                       821                          1181                           10330


        When compared to stats for each Township in 2007 activity remained fairly consistent for each Township. The recorded events assist in establishing zones of patrol in each Township. In using the locations and number of recorded events zones and staffing was adjusted to serve public safety.
 
        In 2007 the Road Patrol maintained traffic enforcement for hundreds of miles of Roadway inside 88 square miles patrol zones in (4) Townships. In 2007 there were 1142 damage accidents were reported compared to 990 in 2006 and 1036 in 2005. The Road Patrol has a complete summary of traffic related events for 2007. This summary was completed so that patrol could be placed in areas were a higher number of accidents occur during the day, and the time those accidents occur. In this summary the top (5) MVA areas were identified intersections and non-intersection. We had (5) fatal accidents in 2007  inside Painesville Township, Concord Township, Perry Township, and Leroy Township

INTERSECTION                                          NON-INTERSECTION
1) SR 2/SR44 P,ville                                     1) 1300 Block Mentor Ave. Pville Twp
2) I 90 AND S.R. 44 Concord                      2) Interstate 90 Westbound Concord
3) Lane & U.S. 20  Perry  Twp                     3) 1201 Mentor Ave (Bus Area) Pville
4) S.R 84 & S.R. 44 Concord                      4) 9956 Johnnycake Concord Twp
         
        The Road Patrol will target above intersections and non-intersections during identified day and times in effort to reduce risk to Lake County residents. In 2007 we will hopefully show that by targeting these locations we reduce property damage and injuries. The Road Patrol also completed a summary of the total number of D.U.I & D.U.S arrests inside Townships. This summary includes day, time, and locations of arrest. This information will be used to adjust manpower inside patrol zones to target traffic offenders. We had 196 No operator license arrest, and  118 Operating  vehicle intoxicated arrests, in 2007. We are currently involved in S.R 44 corridor study to assist in potential impact to traffic, created by new Lake Hospital inside S.R 44/Concord Township area.The Volume of traffic in area of S.R 44 and S.R 84  for Painesville Township and Concord Township during  peak traffic hours will still require large number of Road Patrol Hours.  

       In 2008 the Road Patrol once again, as in 2007 we will apply for and, hope to receive a traffic grant from the Ohio Highway Department of Transportation. This grant will allow us to be reimbursed for overtime hours worked in target traffic enforcement. The area targeted will be Rt.44 between Rt. 2 and Interstate 90.

        The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also maintains one of the best equipped Swat Teams in the State of Ohio. The Swat Team was activated 8 times in 2007. Such activations were critical to eliminating crack houses and methamphetamine labs in our patrol areas and adjoining Painesville City. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 also received a $60,000.00 contribution from Willoughby Eagles. These funds were used to order a 2007 Ford  truck  with Custom Supreme  Corporation, Swat Negotiation Platform. This vehicle is now in service with Swat Team. These Grants and contributions assist in maintaining high level of performance by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Swat Team.

        In 2006 the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a grant for the purchase of a drug detecting dog. The grant was funded by the Ray of Hope which was created to honor Mr. Ray Timbrook. Deputy Saber, a one year old German Sheppard, will be actively involved in Patrol and drug interdiction beginning in June 2006.. It should be noted that the training for Saber was provided at no additional cost, funding the training through collaborative efforts. Deputy Moon and K-9 Saber completed 680 hours of training to become certified in State of Ohio, and start patrolling Townships. Deputy Moon and K-9 Saber were involved in the following activity for (12) months in 2007.

Building searches (14)
Evidences searches (2)
Narcotic searches (32)
Tracks(to assist in locating lost or fleeing person(s) (13)
Assist to other Officers (45)
Contacts with public (145)
Training  388 hours
Narcotics seized- 102.1 grams marijuana, .8 grams cocaine $2,500.00 seized
K-9 Demonstrations (7)
Mutual Aid (assist other Law Enforcement Agencies) (5)
K-9 days off (0)

            The Lake County Sheriff’s Office started a drug detection detail in 2007. Deputy Moon and K-9 Saber will be patrolling areas in Townships were drug activity and drug arrest have been reported.   In 2007 the Road Patrol completed a report of population forecast for (4) townships inside patrol zones, were L.C.S.O is sole police protection. The United States Census Bureau reported the population inside PERRY, PAINESVILLE, CONCORD, AND LEROY TOWNSHIPS at 54,063.  The population forecast completed with assistance of Lake County Planning shows that the end of 2007 at total of 54,063 residents will reside within aforementioned Townships. The uniform Crime report indicated that for every 1,000 residents 1.6 police officers should exist as an average. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office operates well below that national average. The Road Patrol provides an excellent response time, completing investigations for a very high number of criminal events, and traffic related incidents. This is done by a highly dedicated leadership from Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Lieutenants, Sergeants, senior to junior Deputies. (Reference summary of Township population and LCSO manpower). Concord Township in effort to assist the Lake County Sheriff’s Office  has provided funds to pay for a Road Patrol Deputy, vehicle and equipment. This Deputy will be used to patrol neighborhoods and business area’s during hours when thefts, and other reported crimes have occurred. This will assist in the direct targeting of  reported incidents in our Concord Township neighborhoods. This Deputy  funded by Concord Township will always remain inside Concord Township short of life threatening emergency.

        The Road Patrol in part to provide savings , completed a study of Road Patrol Fleet vehicles. The study showed maintenance cost, fuel consumption, average miles driven for each vehicle in the fleet. The study separates vehicle make, year of vehicle, type of tires, and assignment inside the fleet. The summary will be used to make suggestions in type of vehicle to purchase. When to replace the vehicle, and time for repairs to increase mileage. (Reference summary vehicle fleet).

        The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is mandated by State of Ohio to provide a Deputy to issue Concealed Carry Handgun License, and Sex Offender Registration. The Sheriff assigned a Deputy to this position to reduce cost to Lake County Tax payers. The Sheriff’s Office in 2007 issued1,195, a total of 36 were denied, and we suspended 45, revoked 12 Concealed Carry License. We  received  $65,725.00 for licensing and Webb check. The Sheriff’s Office retaining $41,825.00 after payment to State of Ohio. The Deputy involved in Concealed Carry License also is Lake County Sheriff’s Office S.O.R.N. OFFICER. This Deputy is required to register all Sex Offenders released from Prison and returning to Lake County. Lt. Jeff Sherwood monitors this area from the Court Services Division.

        In 2007 a total of 167 Sex Offenders had to be registered through this Deputy. The Courts are reporting that there are currently another 92 sex offenders in prison or jail who could potentially be returning to our area. This Deputy must not only register these offenders he must monitor there movements and report same to public.

        Special Mention needs to be placed with dedicated members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol, and Special Deputies. The men and women that work all hours of the day (7) days a week. They serve and respond to the public needs in a caring, courteous, and professional manner to ensure the highest quality of life for all people. These men and women investigate crimes that can create stresses beyond average citizens belief. They continue to maintain very professional standing with Lake County residents, State, Federal, and local police agencies. This positive, professional conduct starts at the top of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and continues to the newest member of the Road Patrol. This Deputy is honored to work with such a professional group of men and women that make up this fine Office. During 2007 Deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office assisted in one of Lake County’s worst incidents. Lake County residents were confronted with a train derailment dislodging hundreds of residents. Deputies worked  hundreds of overtime hours evacuating residents, directing traffic, protecting property. The overtime in Road Patrol, and Sheriff’s Office dispatch was in excess of $25,000.00. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office with assistance of N&S Railroad this overtime cost was recovered, avoiding any  extra cost to Lake County residents. This incident  involved Mentor, Painesville City , Painesville Township, and Concord. Fire Departments activated fire fighters from all over the State of Ohio. The cooperation and communication between agencies was nothing short of amazing.

     The Lake County Sheriffs Office also requested funds from Homeland Security to improve security at Perry Nuclear Power Plant. This Office to date has received an additional $84,816.00 to improve communications, night vision equipment, and thermal imaging. We have applied for additional $100,000.00 from Homeland Security to improve chemical, biological response, and night vision optics for Swat counter snipers, to again enhance  Lake County Sheriff’s Office Swat Team. The Sheriff along with Administrators at Riverside School District and Auburn Career  Center agreed to share in cost of School  Resource Officers. The schools pay  $90,800 towards (2) Deputies  (1) at Auburn and (1)  at Riverside. These Deputies provide security within the respective schools, and parking lots enhancing protection for our young people. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also received in 2006 a new marine patrol 27’ Boston Whaler valued at $167,000.00. This boat was granted to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office through Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office along with U.S. Coast Guard and Ohio Department of Natural Resources provide safe boating, and enforcement of laws along Lake County shoreline for all Lake County residents.  We list the aforementioned improvements and return of funds to show Lake County residents that we make every effort to not only protect our  citizens  but also to show we value your tax dollars. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 was placed in charge of a new project  The Northern Border Initiative, this project funded by Homeland Security. This  initiative will provide security along the Lake Erie Shoreline. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was able to secure a  new water craft for inland waterways, including the Grand River. This was funded by Homeland Security Office and will enhance Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol and Dive Team.

     The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also received a new mandate from State of Ohio. This is House Bill 422 which requires all public, and private schools to have in place a safety plan. This safety plan must be tested yearly and then reported the local law enforcement. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has completed safety plans and maintains records for yearly test for all schools within patrol area.

     We take pride in the trust our residents have in our agency we will continue to provide the very best we can to the residents of Lake County.   







 

Capt. Lonnie Sparkman
Patrol Commander