Brook Park Police Department

Introduction to the Police Chief

The leadership of the Brook Park Police Department is critical to its operation, and our current Police Chief brings a wealth of experience from 24 years of dedicated service within the department.

Department Functions and Contact

The Police Department serves as a pivotal point of contact for the community, primarily for:

Action Reports and Police Reports: These are the most common reasons for the public to reach out to the department.
Public Records Requests: Often sought for news or meeting purposes, these are the second most common requests.

Staffing and Fleet

The department, currently operating with 33 officers, is in the process of bolstering its ranks to the ideal number of 40. Recruitment is underway, with testing information available on the city's website. The fleet comprises 14 cars, including a K-9 vehicle and a School Resource Officer car, supporting various specialized units.

Special Units and Daily Operations

K-9 Unit: Featuring the newly inducted canine officer, Odin, who joined the force in July.
Drone Unit: Aerial support for complex operations.
Evidence Collectors and Accident Investigators: Specialized roles for meticulous investigation work.
Daily Calls: Traffic issues and family disputes form the bulk of the daily calls to the department.

Community Involvement

The Police Department is deeply embedded in community outreach, with initiatives that include:

School Resource Officer: Stationed on school premises to ensure safety and provide guidance.
Community Programs: Engagements range from veteran memorial funds to 911 runs and special events.
Parade and Event Support: Active participation in community celebrations under specific conditions.

Employment and Department Structure

Prospective candidates can explore various roles, from patrol to specialized divisions such as detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, and a captain, culminating in the Chief's position. The department seeks individuals to fill positions in both its established and prospective units, including a second dog unit and specialized task forces.

Outreach and Communication

Community Outreach: The goal to establish a 'community corner' signifies the department's commitment to engaging with and responding to community inquiries.
Social Media Presence: The department's Facebook page, a hub for urgent community messages, is intended to be linked to the city's website for broader reach.

City Dynamics and Services

Brook Park, with its residential population of around 19,000 that swells to between 23,000 and 25,000 during the day due to the influx of workers, presents unique challenges and opportunities for the department, which also offers services like car lockouts.

Economic Context and Adaptability

The department has faced challenges with program discontinuations and slowed hiring processes due to economic constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, plans are in place to revive special units like the motorcycle unit and to adapt to the changing economic landscape, which includes a mix of industrial businesses, eateries, and bars serving the city's daytime population.

The Brook Park Police Department is committed to maintaining public safety, fostering community relationships, and adapting to the evolving needs of our city. With a blend of seasoned experience and new direction, the department looks forward to strengthening its service to the residents and businesses of Brook Park.

17401 Holland Road
Brook Park, Ohio 44142

We are now accepting applications for entry level Police and Fire
Please visit https://nationaltestingnetwork.com for details.

POLICE PATROL OFFICER EXAM
Please click here to download the application packet in PDF format.

Follow the link to apply for entry level Fire and Police jobs.

https://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/ntn-test-law-national.cfm

Chief Edward Powers

Telephone: (216)433-1239
Fax: (216)362-3222
E-mail: epowers@cityofbrookpark.com

Programs

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

The City of Brook Park is proud to be a D.A.R.E. community. The program has been in place for over ten years. It is currently run by Officer George “Kos” Kosakowski. D.A.R.E. is a collaborative effort by D.A.R.E. certified law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents and community leaders to offer an educational program in the classroom. D.A.R.E. provides students from kindergarten through high school with the skills necessary to recognize and resist pressures to experiment with drugs and to avoid gangs and violence. Lessons emphasize self-esteem, decision making, interpersonal communications skills, and the consequences of drug abuse, conflict resolution and positive alternatives to substance abuse.

Officer Kosakowski is the School Resource Officer at Brook Park Elementary School. His role within the school provides a first line of defense against violence, fosters communication/partnerships between educators, law enforcement, students and parents, and ensures safer and more productive school in our community. Officer Kosakowski instructs the Too Good program which develops a framework of social and emotional skills through the development of goal-setting, decision-making, emotion management, and effective communication skills in addition to peer-pressure refusal, pro-social bonding, and conflict resolution skills.

Helpful Info

City of Brook Park Lockbox Program

Please click here for information and to fill out an application

The Brook Park Police Department would like to remind residents of our Lock Box Program.

What is the Lock Box Program?

The lock box program is designed to help elderly or disabled people that might have trouble answering the door if they are in need.

How does it work?
An officer will respond to your house to and install a lock box on the frame of your door. A key to your house will be locked inside the lock box. There are only three that can open the lock box, one on each of the two ambulances and one in the police department. The lock box can be used for:

If you are in need of medical assistance and can’t open the door for EMS personnel, they will use the lock box to gain entry into your residence instead of having to force entry.
If you lock yourself out of your residence, an officer can respond to open the door for you.
If family members are unable to reach you, they can contact us and we are able to respond to your residence to check on your well being.

If you have any questions about the program, you can call Officer Trenton Brown at 216-767-4934 or tbrown@cityofbrookpark.com.

Lock Box Information Page
Lock Box Application Page

Are You Okay Program

The Brook Park Police Department has started taking applications for the Are You Okay program. The “Are You Okay?” program is an automated system that will contact our community members who voluntarily sign-up. The program is designed to assist seniors, disabled persons, shut-ins, or persons who live alone under circumstances, which render them vulnerable to illness or injury to make sure they are capable of answering the phone. The program is free of charge and can call you either once or twice a day at a time your select. If you are unable to answer the telephone, we will contact your family member or person you designate on the application. If we are unable to reach your designated person, we will have the police respond to your residence to check on you. If you have any questions about the program, you can call Officer Trenton Brown at 216-767-4934 or Are You Okay Application Page
Are You Okay Client Waiver Page
Are You Okay Field Interview Form Fillable PDF

Autism Safety Roster

The Brook Park Police Department has started a program named the Autism Safety Roster. The Autism Safety Roster is a project in partnership between the community members of Brook Park and the Brook Park Police Department. This roster promotes communication and enables the police department to have quick and relevant access to important information about a person with Autism. This information may be crucial in instances where affected persons wander or are experiencing a crisis situation.

The voluntarily supplied information about the person may include: name, birthday, physical description, emergency contact information, known triggers/ behaviors and more. Having early access to this information may prove crucial to successfully defusing a crisis situation or locating a person that has wandered away from safe surroundings. If you have any questions about the program, you can call Officer Trenton Brown at 216-767-4934 or tbrown@cityofbrookpark.com.

Autism Safety Roster Information Page
Autism Safety Application

Police Department Lobby Services

Alarm Permit Information

Accident Report Copies

Emergency Contact Information

Do you know Ohio was the first state in the US that allows you to voluntarily provide Emergency Contact Information within the records of your Ohio Drivers License or Ohio State ID? Why is this important to you? It’s important because it is difficult for law enforcement to find your family members if you are hurt and can’t tell them who to call!

If you are injured, and unable to speak, the only info law enforcement has to find your loved ones is the address on your drivers license
Is someone always at that address?
Average time to unite loved ones is SIX hours
Voluntarily providing your Emergency Contact Information means First Responders can find your loved ones in minutes, not HOURS
It’s FREE, SECURE, and takes just a couple of minutes

Go to https://publicsafety.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odps/who-we-are/resources/next_of_kin to enter your emergency contact information.

CodeRed

The company we use to send out alerts has a link you can click on to be added to the list of recipients. If you sign up for this alert, you will receive emergency notifications, general notifications and severe weather warnings for Brook Park. Click below to sign up:

Disclaimer: The CodeRED service is provided as an additional communication tool and should not be relied upon solely. The City of Brook Park does not make any guarantees with regards to the CodeRED service, including without limitation, guarantees about the accuracy, wholeness, or distribution of any material sent using the CodeREd service. There is no assurance that an announcement will reach any resident. The City of Brook Park shall not be liable for any damages relating to the CodeRED service, regardless of the legal theory under which liability is asserted.

Report Suspicious Activity in Your Neighborhood

The Police Department depends on citizens calling to report crimes or suspicious activity. Recently we have had a number of criminal mischief and criminal damaging complaints in our neighborhoods, including spray painting and other types of damage. We try to patrol all the neighborhoods, but often time an observant citizen is the important link that leads to apprehension. The dispatcher who takes your call will ask questions about the suspicious activity to determine its nature and ask for descriptions of the people involved. It may seem that they are asking numerous questions, but all the information is important to help us respond. Often a police cruiser is on the way while this information is being obtained. You may be asked if an officer or detective may contact you. Please call 911 or 216- 433-1234 to report suspicious activity. Or, you may make an anonymous report of criminal or suspicious activity at the city website using the link at the Police Department site.

Teen Parties

The Police Department reminds you that anyone under 21 who uses, possesses or attempts to purchase alcoholic beverages is in violation of the Law. Juveniles will be charged accordingly. Adults, age 18 to 20, face a possible sentence of 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Parents or adults who provide and/or allow underage drinking in their home or on their property are in violation of Ohio’s “Keg Law.” Violation is punishable with up to 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Parents who host underage drinking also risk civic liability.

Report Malfunctioning Traffic Signals

Crime Tips

FAQ

What time is curfew?

Minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from being upon public streets or in public places during the below listed times unless accompanied by parent or guardian or other responsible adult. The responsible adult must be over the age of 21 and has been given permission by the parent or guardian. (Ord #509.09)

Between the hours of 10:00 pm and 5:00 am on Sunday thru Thursday
Between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am on Friday and Saturday

Can I park my car on the street overnight?

I need to be fingerprinted. Can you do it?

Yes, we will fingerprint residents as a service to them. Generally fingerprinting is done when a jailer is on duty. We recommend calling first at 216 433-1239 as the jailer may not be available. The current schedule for fingerprinting is:
Monday- Friday 8am-1pm.
This service may be provided at other times if we can accommodate you, but you must call first. Proof of residency is required.