Get Pizza With Cleveland Heights Cops On March 7

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — In an effort to further familiarize the community with the officers that patrol the streets, the Cleveland Heights Police Department is hosting a Pizza with Police night on March 7.

The free event is open to all residents and will be held in the police academy, 2595 Noble Road, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The department promises a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Police Chief Annettte Mecklenburg will be on-hand for the evening, as will several of her officers. They will take questions, chat with residents, and provide updates to anyone looking for information on police department activity.

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There will also be information provided on how to form a neighborhood watch group, crime prevention, and the most recent crime statistics.

Last week, the city and police department announced that violent crime was down 28-percent in 2018 versus 2017. There were also 50-percent less burglaries and break-ins in Cleveland Heights last year.

"It's a team effort within the department," Mecklenburg told Patch. "I work with a great group of men and women who are ready to do their jobs. Their effort in keeping this community safe is invaluable. I'm very proud of the officers in the department."

She added that community participation and involvement in preventing crime has led to a drop in several key crime statistics.