Upgraded Men in Uniform

The Upgraded Men in Uniform
Anthony Walick

The Strongsville Police Department used to pale in comparison to the other task forces around the area. People think of the Strongsville police as being careless and sloppy. The city is littered with run-down police stations and the old 1995 Ford Crown Victorias. Strongsville City Hall has realized that they need to revamp their style and remodel the appearance of what is Strongsville Police.
The Strongsville Police has changed a lot over the last year. There is a new, upgraded 911 system that can locate and map cell phone calls. Monica Pivato, a local resident of Strongsville, hit a mailbox with her car. She used 911 to get to the police so they could come to her rescue. The new system made it possible for the police to find her location. “It was really easy for me. I did not have to tell them my location,” she said.
Just like the Strongsville City School levy, the Police levy failed also. They had an idea to build a new facility combined with a new City Hall but did not get enough votes to make that a reality. When I asked Ptl. C. Koenig about it, he said, “There is no Police levy anymore.” It is a sad sight because the police stations in the city are about to fall over and the fire stations are gorgeous. The new alternative idea is to knock down the current fire station on Royalton Road and add on to the police station which already is standing there. That is possible because there is a new fire station being built in the area.
As if the police training was not hard enough, they had to complete National Incident Management System training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Combined with that training, the officers also had to complete over 4,098 hours of advanced training. This includes seminars and training schools around the nation. How can you still want to be a police officer after all of this? Ptl. C. Koenig responded by saying, “Because it is just a fun job.”
Last year alone, the men in uniform had 186 arrests for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. That is one arrest for every two days. The force is also a member of the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. This particular program coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law agencies.
Something that is very important to the people of Strongsville is internet interaction with the youth. The Police Force of Strongsville participated with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This agency was created to help find multiple offenders who use the internet to talk to young children.
The Strongsville Police Force has a new face and a new attitude. They are now a group of crime-hungry young men and women. If you are used to bending the law, you better watch out or they will find you.