The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department is a state-certified law enforcement agency and is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Sworn police officers of the CMHA Police Department are certified by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission and have full police arrest powers. They enforce all city, state, and federal laws, as well as agency policies and procedures. The CMHA Police Department provides quality law enforcement service to residents, employees, and visitors of CMHA properties located throughout Cuyahoga County. The Department provides policing services to CMHA residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round and has an authorized staff of approximately 135.
The Police Headquarters contains over 60 police and administrative offices and houses a specialized 24-hour, seven-day a week state-of-the art Communications Center, as well as a Disaster Planning/Safety Management Division. It also provides state-of-the-art communication, security, and data handling systems. These systems include a new technologically advanced telephone system, as well as video surveillance cameras at specific access points to the police areas.
Address:
5715 Woodland Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44104
Contact Information:
Emergency: (216) 391-CMHA (2642)
Non-Emergency: (216) 426-7760
Fax: (216) 361-3728
Command Staff
Angel J. Morales
Deputy Chief of Operations
George E. Coulter
Executive Officer
William R. Likes
Commander of Patrol
Darlene Broom
Executive Assistant
CALEA Accreditation
Twenty years ago, the Police Executive Research Forum, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police joined forces to develop a set of professional standards for all types of law enforcement entities in the United States and other countries nationwide. Collectively known as the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the organization has currently developed over 400 state-of-the-art standards and is responsible for administering the accreditation process.
Accreditation provides recognition for a police department's willingness to better itself to become the most productive and most effective law enforcement agency it can be. Since 1983, CALEA has been enlisting a growing number of agencies in the voluntary accreditation process that ensures a standard of excellence, while helping law enforcement agencies attain professional status. Today, out of approximately 17,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, only a small percentage have attained the prestigious accreditation award, among them, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department. Additionally, CMHA is the only public housing police force in the nation to achieve reaccreditation for a fourth time. Reaccreditation is much more than an honor. It is a testament to the rigorous standards CMHA expects its police force to meet.
More information on CALEA is available at: http://www.calea.org.
Police Memorial
Dedicated on May 14, 1993, The Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial is located at the corner of West 3rd St. and Lakeside Ave in downtown Cleveland in the historic Huntington Park.
Once the site of Fort Huntington, built to defend the city during the War of 1812, it is only fitting that it now serve to honor both those who continue to protect, and those who have died protecting our lives and property.
Constructed of black polished granite the structure comprises almost 1,000 square feet of space. The structure consists of a curved wall that slopes gently from two feet high upward to six feet semi-surrounding three granite tablets. The Memorial wall bears the inscription: "The Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial"
The three tablets inside the curved wall measure seven feet wide, twelve feet high and two feet thick. Each bears the name, law enforcement agency, and date of death of each of the 172 area peace officers who have died in the line of duty. Sadly one of them has space remaining for those officers who have yet to pay the supreme sacrifice in the never-ending war on crime.
Leading up to the Memorial are brick pavers. These are part of the walkways and viewing areas outside of the Memorial. The Society offers the public a meaningful way to show support and be a part of the endeavor by purchasing a personalized brick.
Each May, the Society sponsors the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Celebration in conjunction with National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th). Events include a parade through downtown Cleveland followed by a service at the memorial.
One of the premier events is the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Tattoo. In the time-honored tradition of the military tattoo, the pipes & drums of numerous police departments throughout the United States and Canada, as well as marching bands, drill teams, dance and choral groups, combine their talents in a spectacular display of pageantry and music. The law enforcement community and the general public gather together in remembrance, fellowship and celebration to indeed "Honor our Fallen".
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department
Born: January 15, 1969
End of Watch: March 22, 1996
Officer Derrik Lanier was working a part-time job when he was shot in the back and killed on March 22, 1996.
Officer Lanier, in full uniform refused the suspect admission to a tavern earlier in the evening. The suspect returned around closing time and without warning shot and killed Officer Lanier.
The suspect fled and was arrested later that morning with an accomplice. The weapon was also recovered. Officer Lanier began his law enforcement career with CMHA in 1992 and had received public recognition for his work with disadvantaged youth.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department
Born: March 6, 1968
End of Watch: August 15, 1994
CMHA Police Officer Edward Madison died in an automobile accident on August 15, 1994. At the time of the accident, he was off-duty and driving his motorcycle westbound on St. Clair Avenue and in the vicinity of East 124th Street.
Emergency medical services and police including Cleveland and CMHA Police Officers arriving at the scene observed he was carrying his CMHA badge, police hat, and firearm at the time of the collision.
He received a funeral and burial with police honors.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department
Born: September 1, 1931
End of Watch: October 14, 1989
On Friday afternoon, October 14, 1989, a 31 year-old male confronted and disarmed Officer Alcee McCray at gunpoint. Officer McCray had been making his rounds on the first floor of a CMHA Hi-rise building when the male accosted him.
Officer McCray was shot and fatally wounded during the confrontation. After shooting McCray, the suspect shot another officer in the face as he arrived on scene.
The suspect fled with Officer McCray’s firearm and ran toward Franklin Avenue. Eventually, he lost the stolen firearm as he climbed over a fence. He was apprehended a short time later. Officer McCray’s killer was found guilty of aggravated murder and sentenced to 38 years to life plus 25 years for the death of Officer McCray.
Alcee McCray’s name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington D. C.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department
Born: September 9, 1964
End of Watch: February 16, 2003
On February 11, 2003, Officer Eric Nar reported to work, attended Roll Call, and started his tour of duty patrolling the various CMHA properties. When Officer Nar failed to respond to Dispatcher's radio calls for service, officers immediately began a search to find him.
CMHA Police Officers spotted Officers Nar’s patrol vehicle parked with the engine running near the intersection of Woodland Avenue and E. 55th Street. He was found inside the vehicle disoriented and complaining of a severe headache. Officers rushed him to the nearest hospital where he was admitted.
Soon thereafter, Officer Nar lapsed into a coma. He died several days later. Doctors determined that his untimely death was the result of a brain aneurysm.
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