COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES
(C.O.P.S.)

COPS officers partner with the community to identify problem areas located within the city, such as drug houses, or juvenile complaints— so that the proper police unit can effectively resolve and eliminate the problem. The COPS Unit also oversees the 140+ Neighborhood Block Watch groups and conducts the Block Watch training sessions. They also attend meetings, assist with problems that may arise, and act as a liaison between the Block Watch group and other units within the Akron Police Department. Anyone wishing to start a Neighborhood Block Watch should download the attached file and contact the COPS Unit at (330) 375-2568 to schedule your first meeting.

The COPS Unit conducts a Landlord/Tenant training to provide information to assist property owners with various topics concerning their rental properties. These meetings cover areas such as landlord/tenant laws, tenant screening and evictions, crime data and crime prevention tips, and they also provide information about compliance to avoid civil fines, mandatory inspections and code enforcement. Magistrates and other professionals assist in facilitating the meetings.

COPS officers also partner with other community organizations to provide mentoring programs such as:

* Weed & Seed strategy
* S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere)
* Reach One/Teach One
* S.T.O.M.P. (Student Training Officer Mentoring Program)
* S.T.R.I.V.E. ( Seeking Talented Resources Igniting Viable Encounters)
* PAL Youth Group (Perkins, Arch and Leggett Streets)
* Project Consider (Perkins and Riedinger Middle Schools)
* K.N.A.F.F. (Kids Need A Firm Foundation)

The K.N.A.F.F. project was formed to honor the memory of Officer George R. Knaff, an officer killed in the line of duty on November 5, 1994. The project is designed to have officers interact with the youths of the community and discuss various subjects such as substance abuse, conflict resolution relationships with police, etc. while providing yearly recreational outings to reward the teens for doing the right things in their communities. Some of these annual K.N.A.F.F. project events include tours to correction facilities, field trips to an Air Force base, gang/drug resistance camp, and the Victim Assistance Picnic.

Community Oriented Policing Officers:

Sector 1 (Downtown Areas)
Officer Michael Gould, 3:00-11:00, mgould@ci.akron.oh.us

Sector 2 (North)
Officer Michael Hill, 8:00-4:00, mhill@ci.akron.oh.us

Sector 3 (East/South)
Officer Lionel Millender, 8:00-4:00, lmillender@ci.akron.oh.us
Officer Michael Kulick, 3:00-11:00, mkulick@ci.akron.oh.us

Sector 4 (West)
Officer Lloyd Ford, 8:00-4:00, lford@ci.akron.oh.us
Officer Rodney Brock, 3:00-11:00, rbrock@ci.akron.oh.us

Sgt. Michael Lugenbeal, PM COPS Supervisor, mlugenbeal@ci.akron.oh.us