The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and the Law Enforcement Foundation has recognized the Willoughby Police Department for its community policing efforts, naming it the September 2024 Agency of the Month. “This is an incredible honor and I’m appreciative they thought of us in that regard,” said Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz. “The credit for this award goes to our Community Involvement Officer Ross Shirley for his incredible effort and enthusiasm with his programs, and to our entire police department.” Schultz observed that the department’s officers, dispatches and support staff bring outstanding attitude, integrity and dedication to the community daily. “I’m happy for our members and for our department to be recognized this way by the association because they deserve it,” he said. “We are dedicated to our community, we will lead by example and we will always be there for our great community.” According to a OACP and LEF press release, both entities formed a new committee, Community Relations and Engagement in 2018, intending to work with agencies of all sizes and capabilities to highlight their positive work that’s being done around Ohio daily. In 2019, both organizations began the Sharing Ohio’s Best program to help bring awareness to the work that agencies do throughout the state to promote positive policing. As part of the process, the Community Relations and Engagement Committee compiles submissions from agencies, and selects one each month to be recognized. The committee also focuses on creativity and how the program impacts the individual community. Recent programs that have been recognized include a teen driving course, programs to help the disabled and programs focusing on community safety, according to the press release. Among the community programs the Willoughby Police Department is being recognized for include: The Willoughby Police Cadets; Touch-a-Truck; National Night Out; Stuff the Cruiser; Safety Town, a program for children entering kindergarten; Coffee with Cops, held in May and August at local coffee shops or restaurants; Citizens Police Academy, a weekly program conducted every Tuesday in July; Trick or Trunk, a Halloween event held at Classic Park in October; and Toys for Tots, a holiday charity drive held in December. The Willoughby Police Department is currently staffed with 43 full-time and 20 part-time officers, and 23 civilian staff, nine of which are dispatchers. This is complemented with several part-time civilian staff and a variable number of part-time sworn officers up to 33 at full staff.