Lakewood Hires 2 Neighborhood Police Officers

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood has added two new community police officers to Wards 1 and 3, the city announced.

Community police are tasked with providing direct help to their wards and members of city council. Their primary responsibilities, the city said, will be to "tackle ongoing quality of life concerns, such as noise, vandalism, and petty theft, and to work in cooperation with area residents to alleviate these issues."

"Their goal is to become familiar with their neighborhoods and residents, and to proactively handle lingering problems before they become more serious in nature," the city added in a statement.

Patrol Officer Neil Thibodeaux will work in the western edge of Lakewood, Ward 1. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and has been part of the Lakewood Police Department since 2001. During his tenure in Lakewood, he has been a patrol officer, field training officer, accident investigators, SWAT member and detective in the narcotics unit.

Patrol Officer William “Bill” McCarthy will work in the middle of the city, Ward 3. He is a U.S. Army veteran and has been part of Lakewood Police Department since 2002. He has been a patrol officer, an accident investigator and a member of the SWAT team. Prior to joining the department, he was a corrections officer with Lakewood.

For more information on the new officers, and how to contact them with concerns, visit the city's announcement of their hiring.