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Public Safety/Justice
System Day
November 9, 2005
Leadership Lake County
Class of 2006 convened at the Willoughby Hills Community Center, courtesy of
Mayor Kenneth Lorenz. Class member Frank Manning presented an overview of
the day, explaining that time permits only touching the surface of the
justice and public safety systems in Lake County.
Laketran
transported the class to the Lake County Detention Facility (jail) as the
first site visit of the day. Sheriff Daniel Dunlap spoke to the class about
his duties, which vary from auctioning properties, serving summons, issuing
arrest warrants, and policing townships, to operating the jail. He discussed
in detail the types of prisoners housed in the jail, sadly many have mental
illness and/or drug and alcohol problems. Sheriff Dunlap was among the first
to offer treatment programs to the incarcerated and was instrumental in
establishing Lake County’s first Mental Health Court. A brief tour of the
jail demonstrated the highly automated systems in place.
Judge Eugene Lucci
presented an overview of the court system in Ohio, explaining the duties as
well as the costs associated with our justice system. Class members observed
a sentencing in Judge Lucci’s court, which gave them a clearer understanding
of the process. Lake County Common Pleas judges, Colleen Falkowski, and
William Weaver, of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court, respectively, gave
presentations about the duties of their courts. It was a session packed with
useful information.
Major Charles Caldwell, who
is responsible for the Lake County Emergency Operations Center explained its
history and functions in community emergency preparedness. Class members
toured the bunker which also houses Lake County’s 911 emergency response
service east of Mentor.
The Class returned to the
Willoughby Hills Community Center where stations were set up to demonstrate
different police and fire services. Chief Rich Harmon presented a simulated
fire rescue; Gondo and Elliot Ness, cadaver dogs, were more
than willing to demonstrate their skills, as was the Willoughby Hills police
drug dog. We heard an explanation of CALMHS from Crossroads, the Lake County
General Health District explained the anthrax emergency plan, we observed
the jaws of life demonstration, the MEDEVAC crew (complete with helicopter)
discussed their services and there was a presentation on the Lake County
Emergency Agency. The afternoon offered a great deal of information about
Lake County’s public safety forces that have procedures in place should an
emergency arise. Class members were pleased to participate in
demonstrations where required. They gave high marks to their classmates who
served on the planning committee for this most outstanding program day.
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