The Lake County commissioners have partnered with Texas-based Lexipol, a private company specializing in policy, training, and wellness support for public safety and government leaders, to bring its policy management system to all 22 law enforcement agencies in the county.
Police chiefs — some who had used Lexipol’s solutions previously — came together in favor of the collaboration, working with Commissioner John Hamercheck to coordinate the effort.
Additionally, Hamercheck worked with Commissioner John Plecnik, as well as agency leaders and community stakeholders, to bring the action to fruition in 2022.
According to the board, Lake County sought the partnership to “build trust and accountability” in law enforcement agencies at a time when police legitimacy was being questioned across the nation.”
Hamercheck noted the effort also reflects the board’s goal to do right by the citizens.
“With Lexipol, our policies are standardized across the county,” he said. “We have our local policies, but they’re all harmonized with the (Ohio) Revised Code, court precedent, and best practices….and residents know that something is different. They may not know why, but that something is Lexipol.”
The partnership is also the first of its kind, Lexipol CEO Bill Nunan stated in a news release, adding that standardizing policies has made operations simpler and more streamlined when it comes to interagency operations such as pursuits and mass-casualty incident training and response.
“This (partnership) allows us as chiefs to respond to our communities properly and better manage our agencies,” said Painesville Police Chief Dan Waterman. “We’re a group in this county that wants to stand above, and this has been a step in that direction.
“This program allows us to refocus ourselves on strategic needs in other areas without sacrificing when it comes to policy.”
Chiefs also tout the accessibility of their policy manuals within the mobile app, giving officers answers to policy questions “anytime, anywhere.”
Willoughby Police Chief James Schultz added that the partnership has made departments better servants.
“And people are seeing that,” he said, noting “community trust and engagement have grown since the policies have been implemented, proven both in community interactions and at the polls.
“Last year, 75 percent of Willoughby residents voted to fund the construction of a new police station, demonstrating their widespread support for the department,” Schultz added.
