Two Police Officers Added To Westlake Schools

WESTLAKE, OH — Two police officers will be joining the Westlake City Schools this year as School Resource Officers. The additions will join Westlake's long-serving officer at Westlake High.

Officer Pat Foye and Officer Ted Morley will be School Resource Officers/Drug Abuse Prevention Officers at Lee Burneson Middle School and Dover Intermediate School, respectively. Both Foye and Morley previously served with Lakewood Police.

“They are going to be establishing themselves at their respective schools this year, getting to know parents, teachers and students,” said Police Chief Kevin Bielozer. “We’ve got a great relationship and open communication with the schools.”

Foye spent 25 years in Lakewood, is a U.S. Army Reserves veteran, served on Westshore Enforcement Bureau (WEB) SWAT, as a negotiator and narcotics detective. Morley, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, spent 30 years in Laekwood. He was a member of WEB SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Task Force. He is also a community officer and firearms and tactics trainer.

The salaries for the two officers will be partially funded by the city, and a State of Ohio Drug Use Prevention Grant.

The expansion of the School Resource Officers program is the result of a close partnership between Westlake Police, Westlake City Schools, and community members, particularly Cleveland Door Control's Don Mueser.

“The schools are committed to working with the city in a true partnership to better our community as a whole,” Westlake Schools Superintendent Scott Goggin said. “The SRO program is another example of that strong working relationship based on mutual respect.”

Westlake Police will continue to visit the district's elementary school buildings as part of daily patrols. Bielozer said there are plans to add another resource officer at the new elementary building, which is set to open for the 2019-2020 school year.

Augmenting the three in-school officers, Officer Kendra Yurgionas will keep educating students and parents on social media and cybercrime. D.A.R.E. Officer Keenan Cooke also will continue to provide education to third, fifth, and seventh grades.

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