Divisions

Seasonally, a team of certified police mountain bike police patrol the Park District. The bicycles allow officers to patrol off-road areas that are not easily accessible in a cruiser. In addition to enhancing the department's patrol efforts, the bicycle is a pollution-free vehicle that demonstrates the Park District's commitment to conserving natural resources.

Being a Bike Patrol Officer requires concentration, agility, and physical conditioning. Members complete forty hours of rigorous training. They must demonstrate proficiency in a series of riding skills, including balance, controlled skids, curb jumping, riding stairs, and suspect apprehension. The certification course also includes a long endurance ride with steep hill climbs.

Bike Patrol Team officers also participate in public relations events throughout the Park District and local communities, to remind visitors about bicycle laws and safety.

The Detective Bureau investigates serious crimes and suspicious incidents that occur in the Park District. Detectives work closely with other officers and law enforcement agencies to solve cases. The Juvenile Unit, a branch of the Detective Bureau, processes crimes through the juvenile justice system. The Bureau's experienced detectives also instruct local police officers in the techniques of evidence collection and crime scene management.

The Dive Team responds to water-related emergencies and evidence recoveries in the Park District and surrounding communities. Dive Team officers are nationally-certified dive rescue specialists and underwater evidence technicians. A support crew is also professionally trained in a variety of disciplines, including crime scene management and underwater search patterns.

Dive Team officers also conduct boat safety inspections, and promote water safety at public relations events throughout the Park District and local communities.

Cleveland Metropark’s UAS (unmanned aircraft System) Operators perform a multi-role throughout the park district. UAS operators perform missions including search and rescue, suspect location, and crime and crash scene documentation. UAS operators receive Part 107 pilot certification and perform preflight management and maintenance. Cleveland Metropark’s UAS overs a FLIR (forward-looking infrared) camera and can drop rescue essentials with its 5-pound payload. The mission of the Cleveland Metropark’s UAS Operators is rapidly becoming one of the most essential public safety tools within the park district and surrounding communities.

Questions for our UAS Drone Operator can be directed to: Ian Hodge - [email protected] or DJ Petitti - [email protected]

The Field Operations Division is tasked with protecting the Park District's natural resources, visitors, employees and facilities. The uniformed officers of the Field Operations Division patrol by foot, bicycle and in marked cruisers 24-hours a day, year-round, to ensure the safety and protection of Cleveland Metroparks. They respond to emergencies and calls for service, investigate crimes and complaints, and enforce state laws and Park District regulations.

The Honor Guard represents the Park District and Police Department at memorial services, funerals, parades, opening ceremonies, special events, and official meetings. The dedicated and professional police officers of the Honor Guard train throughout the year, and have participated in events including Cleveland's Saint Patrick's Day Parade, the Gold Cup Horse Show, and the Greater Cleveland and Ohio Peace Officer Memorial ceremonies.

The Police Department's state and nationally-certified police K-9s are used for search and rescue, apprehending fleeing suspects and detecting illegal drugs and explosives. K-9 Unit officers continuously update their skills by participating in regional training exercises throughout the year, statewide instruction, and national training conferences. The K-9 Unit is very successful, and often called upon to assist other local law enforcement agencies.

Read more about the K-9 Unit

The Cleveland Metroparks Police Marine Unit was established as a full-time unit in 2016. As the footprint of the Cleveland Metroparks grew along Greater Cleveland’s lakefront, the need for a unit that would specialize in law enforcement and search and rescue was necessary for the safety and welfare of all Cleveland Metroparks visitors. The Marine Unit is a full-time function of the police department that specializes in Maritime Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Boater Education and Ice Rescue Operations. The Marine Unit actively patrols over 30 miles of Cuyahoga County lakefront as well as the Cuyahoga and Rocky Rivers.

During Search and Rescue Operations, the Marine Unit can be called upon to assist state and federal agencies anywhere in the over 730 square mile of Cuyahoga County’s portion of Lake Erie. Search and Rescue efforts provided by the Marine Unit are directly responsible for the safe rescue of hundreds of recreational boaters. The Marine Unit is assigned to the Special Operations Division of the Police Department and comprised of both full-time and part-time officers. Full-time officers are selected through a competitive process for assignment and report directly to the Marine Unit Supervisor.

Questions for the CMPD Marine Patrol can be directed to: [email protected]

As early as 1923, police motorcycles have been used by the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department. Police motorcycles have many functions including traffic enforcement, patrol duties, escorts, public relations and parades. The Motorcycle Unit was re-established in April of 2020 when the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department debuted its first all-electric, dual-sport, heavy-duty Zero Motorcycle. In March of 2021, a second Zero Motorcycle was added to the fleet – both donated by the First Energy Foundation. The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department was the first agency in Ohio to create an all-electric motorcycle unit. In May of 2023, the unit expanded with the addition of two Harley Davidson Electra Glide Police Model motorcycles. The department currently has four Certified Police Motorcycle Operators, all of whom have undergone extensive training to meet the demands of this specialized unit.

Questions for the CMPD motorcycle unit can be directed to: [email protected]

The Mounted Unit was established in 1921, to meet the Park District's special law enforcement needs. With over 25,000 acres of land, and hundreds of miles of trails, the Mounted Unit is essential to the protection and safety of Cleveland Metroparks. The Mounted Unit is highly-regarded throughout Northeast Ohio, and has received many professional awards. The Mounted Unit has represented Ohio law enforcement in two presidential inaugural parades.

Donations to the Police Department Mounted Unit Fund are a unique way for individuals and organizations to support Mounted Unit officers and their horses. Click here for more information.

The primary mission of the Patrol Impact Team (PIT) is to target and apprehend individuals involved in criminal activity within the park district. Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Criminal interdiction in high-crime areas and locations with elevated rates of
  disturbance calls
• Enforcement of OVI laws during peak times of impaired driving
• Traffic enforcement in areas with high accident rates or significant citizen complaints
• Conducting undercover operations to identify and address criminal activity
• Execution of warrant services to apprehend individuals with outstanding department
  warrants

The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department is a member of the Southwest Enforcement Bureau, a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. This specialized team is made up of 19 different communities and political subdivisions, all of whom contribute funding and personnel to equip and staff this team.