Great Job Lakewood Police!

[Jim O'Bryan]

This afternoon I was walking down Cook Ave. when I saw a teenager yelling for "help, I am
being robbed." so I started towards him, when I saw another male get out of the car and
punch him twice int he face. Suddenly he was yelling "they have a gun, they have a gun." I
immediately called Lakewood Police who came in from 5 different directions in about 30
seconds. They surrounded the car, arresting two males, and looked for a third they caught
shortly after.

The police found one gun and some drugs.

GREAT WORK LAKEWOOD POLICE!

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Police with suspects in custody.


Ruffner Towing removing a sewer grate where one of the males went twice and bent over.


Lakewood Police officer pulling items out of the sewer, drugs and more drugs.

It now seems the gun was a BB-Gun, and that it could have been a drug deal gone very bad.

The lesson for all of us to learn is, in doubt call the police. If something does not seem right, call the police.
Lakewood Police are very fast to respond, and do not mess around.

Thanks again Lakewood Police.


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Now let's talk some reality here.

When I called 911, it rang 5 times, then a woman answered, and I said, trouble behind XXXXXXXXX (stores
owners are sensitve to their names being used with crimes they have nothing to do with). The operator said,
911, can I help you. By this time the kid was yelling "look out he has a gun." I said to the operator, get someone
here now. She said, "What city are you calling from?" I went "huh?" She said, "Sir what city are you calling
from? I said "Lakewood," She said, "just a minute please." The phne rang 3 more times when a voice said
"Lakewood 911 can I help you." I repeated the comment, "armed robbery, behind XXXXXXXX get someone
here now." She calmly said, while putting out the call, "Can you see the robbers? I said "yes." She said, "can
you describe them to me?" and I did, one of the males approached me, and I told him to not take another
step. She said, "how many?" At that point police came out of the nowhere, with guns drawn, and people told
to get on the ground.

My point is. If this is regionalism, KEEP IT? Imagine had the gun not been a pellet gun, and the kid was
shooting, or imagine your house on fire, or husband, wife or child needing help NOW?

So we save money but double or triple response time? For what? So that other cities save money? So that
East Cleveland can get more police while we get less?

A City exists to provide residents and businesses with services. One of the first thing a city does is start a
police department and a fire department. And we elect officials that want to negate that? Negate the very
safety and reason why we moved here?

Really?

What are we getting in exchange? More drunks on Detroit? More criminals through county programs? Less
services, and less safety?

Really?

.

[Jill Jusko]

Were you on a cell phone? Would they know automatically you were calling from Lakewood if you are not on a land line?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Were you on a cell phone? Would they know automatically you were calling from Lakewood if you are not on a land line?

Jill

I was on a cell phone. I knew I was on a cell phone. What I was not really ready for was asking the city twice,
then the time it took to transfer.

While it was probably one 10 - 15 seconds, ask the fire department about what a fire does to a 100 year old
wood structure? You can easily empty a 16 shot clip in 10 seconds.

Once I got through to Lakewood, they were ideal. Kept me calm, paused while I was yelling at the people, and
kept me focused and talking. This is for many reasons, one being if I was killed, they would have a description.
They were very professional. Once I got to Lakewood.

My point was, is this really a road we want to go down. Slow down response time? Let's not forget, the county
study showed "no savings" with the regionalization of the fire department. From what I can tell, the only people
for regionalism, are the people that get paid to push it. CLE+, TEAM NEO, and other entities that are paid with
tax dollars, lots, and lots of tax dollars to push something, none of them would push without the paycheck.

No one did anything wrong at either dispatch, it just seemed backwards, and long, too long.

.

[Jill Jusko]

Was there a better, non-regional solution in this particular situation?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Was there a better, non-regional solution in this particular situation?

I would have thought keeping it local. I have to believe, a city can always opt out. The city opted out of
RITA, I believe many cities said no thank you to the fire department realignment.

Jill, I have to believe we both love this city and care about this city. Why? I am willing to bet we see the same
positives, and the same reasons. But how many do we lose, in our constant march towards regionalism?

My point always is, I am no sure if it is better or not. But I do know, with many of these programs once in place,
it becomes cost prohibitive to change it. I was in a pretty good discussion at city hall three months ago about,
garbage collection. One person said it was already paid off, and saving money. A call o someone in the building
brought back the answer it will take 8 years, and then only because of retirements.

To go back to backyard pick up, something that made us different and made are streets so much cleaner will
now never happen, we simply could never afford it. Kind of sad, had someone told us the truth when it was
rolled out, I bet, there would have been much more debate, and maybe, just maybe, Lakewood would not
look like Cleveland, and that is something we could market.

Love seeing you jumping in, hope this year finds you in good health and spirits.

.

[Jill Jusko]

I'm not a proponent/opponent of regionalism, but I think you propose an interesting situation, given all the cell phones...that's what I'm thinking about.

If you are on a cell phone and they don't know where you are calling from, couldn't "keeping it local" potentially present a problem? I.e. if this situation had happened in Strongsville and you called from a cell with a Lakewood telephone number? If it "went local," would it go to Lakewood 911? Or Strongsville?

I don't have a great deal of technical know-how (in fact, almost none), so maybe there is an easy way to know where you are calling from. If there isn't, it seems like regionalism in this specific example is useful...particular when cell phones are in play.

[Ryan Salo]

Lakewood Police Emergency number 216-521-1234, Non-emergency number 216-521-6773.

I have personally had to call both, and it is nice to be able to reach Lakewood directly.

I have Rocky River in my cell phone as well because for years now I have known that 911 is not the fastest way to reach help. It is fast, but not the fastest.

Lakewood police and fire are amazing and I do not want to lose any of their services due to regionalism.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I'm not a proponent/opponent of regionalism, but I think you propose an interesting situation, given all the cell phones...that's what I'm thinking about.

If you are on a cell phone and they don't know where you are calling from, couldn't "keeping it local" potentially present a problem? I.e. if this situation had happened in Strongsville and you called from a cell with a Lakewood telephone number? If it "went local," would it go to Lakewood 911? Or Strongsville?

I don't have a great deal of technical know-how (in fact, almost none), so maybe there is an easy way to know where you are calling from. If there isn't, it seems like regionalism in this specific example is useful...particular when cell phones are in play.

Jill

I am with you on the know how, and as always you bring interesting thoughts to the discussion. I do not
know, but I have to think if "social friends" can find each other in hundreds of different ways without ever
signing on, there is a way to tell where I am. Of course Lakewood might not have the technology, or even
the county. I have to think there is a way, with how close cell towers need to be...

But for me now, back to work, paper out tomorrow, and I wasted an afternoon playing around.

.

[Jill Jusko]

Ryan,

I get what you are saying, but what if you had been in Strongsville and Mr. O'Bryan's situation had occurred?

Mr. O'Bryan,
Just trying to bring some critical thinking to the discussion.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ryan,

I get what you are saying, but what if you had been in Strongsville and Mr. O'Bryan's situation had occurred?

Mr. O'Bryan,
Just trying to bring some critical thinking to the discussion.

Jill

I love discussion, I love opinions, I love opinions that differ from mine. I do not fear words or discussions. You
have often brought a completely different view to the Deck than mine or others. I see that as a good thing.
Critical thinking, more importantly your critical thinking in this case is appreciated. It is funny I was thinking
and had actually written in an earlier response when I got hit by a train many, many, many years ago 45
seconds seemed like hours.

But this was like that, this was very much in real time, as I was talking the entire time two three different
people, and Lakewood dispatch have a very calming effect.

But I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. But from now on, 521-1234.

.

[Jill Jusko]

"But from now on, 521-1234."

Not if you are in Cleveland Heights, I hope.

[Jim O'Bryan]

"But from now on, 521-1234."

Not if you are in Cleveland Heights, I hope.

Well no, outside of Lakewood, I carry.




.

[Stan Austin]

Jim--- that has happened to me. If I call 911 on the cell it gets routed through ATT operators first. So, I always call 521-1234 and get immediate response. Now, if I wasn't in Lakewood and didn't know any local emergency numbers I'd have to rely on 911.
Another anomaly of modern cell phones is that on a 911 hangup it's often impossible to trace the call in order to check back. Or, the address goes back to 14300 Detroit where all the carriers have relay antennas on the Barton Center building.
BTW-- had a great "Ride Along" tonight! Lakewood's finest are very impressive and professional up close!
Stan