The Willoughby Police Department has received a donation of $47,000 from the Willoughby Fraternal Order of Eagles that will benefit three separate projects at the department. According to Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz, $20,000 went to walkie talkie radio purchases in 2025, $12,000 went to Emergency Response Team members ballistic vests and $15,000 went to the Willoughby Police Cadet Program. Schultz said Ed Glass, the Secretary for the Willoughby Fraternal Order of Eagles, called months ago and asked if the department could use some additional support from their club. Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz, left, accepts a donation check from the Fraternal Order of Eagles to help the department with several programs. (Courtesy of Willoughby Police) As it turns out, the donation from the FOE will benefit the Willoughby Police K-9 program, the Cadet program and ensure several important updates to safety gear for the department. “FOE #2300 has been an outstanding partner with us over the years, graciously supporting our K-9 programs,” Schultz said. “We are sending Officer Taylor Zana to begin his training with his new K-9, Eagle, at the Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania. It was through the generosity of the FOE #2300 that we were able to purchase and train our newest K-9 to our department from their donation in 2023.” “When Mr. Glass called me this year, he said their organization raised a tremendous amount of money to help local charities and organizations,” Schultz added. “Because of our longstanding partnership, Mr. Glass contacted me immediately, which I am greatly appreciative. I told Mr. Glass that I am currently involved in several projects that needed assistance.” Schultz instructed the FOE those projects were new ballistic vests for Emergency Response Team members, new portable walkie talkie radios for the department, and the newly formed Cadet Program. Community Involvement Officer Ross Shirey has brought a new innovative approach and ideas to the office and has been very proactive in the community with his events and programs, according to Schultz. Shirey reorganized the Police Explorer program into a Cadet Program and one of his first goals was to raise money and support for police academy tuitions for the Cadets. The Cadet Program brings interested teenagers into the police department, organizes them in a similar structure, trains them in many similar tasks and skills that our police officers are involved in like crime scene investigations and use of force scenarios to name a few and it provides an organized platform of community service and involvement. “I am extremely grateful and appreciative of the support we have received from our friends at the Willoughby Fraternal Order of Eagles #2300, Club President Jerry Frye and Secretary Ed Glass,” Schultz said. “I’m proud of our community partnership we’ve created with the FOE and I look forward to many more outstanding years working with this awesome civic organization.’