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 Communications Center operates 24-hours a day, year-round, to ensure that important communications are relayed to police. Dispatchers transmit information to officers throughout the Park District concerning crimes-in-progress, accidents, injuries, and traffic-related problems. Each year, the Communications Center dispatches officers on nearly 16,000 calls for service. Dispatchers prioritize calls as emergency, service, or informational in nature.

These dedicated members of the Police Department see that visitors receive prompt care for emergencies, a fast response to calls for assistance, and a friendly answer to informational inquiries.

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.

The Field Operations Division is tasked with protecting the Park District's natural resources, visitors, employees and facilities. The uniformed rangers 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 rangers 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 Mounted Unit was established in 1921, to meet the Park District's special law enforcement needs. With over 23,700 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.