Be Well Event Offers Parents Resources on Addiction, Mental Health

Community leaders are joining together this fall to offer a free event for parents interested in learning about spotting the signs of substance use addiction.

Be Well: Prevention, Awareness, & Recovery, will be held Sept. 20 at Hilliard Darby High School. The free event is open to adults only. The first 300 guests will receive a free meal.

The event will begin with dinner and a resource fair in the school’s cafeteria from 5 to 6 p.m. A simulated teenage bedroom, known as Can You See Me Now?, will be on display in the school’s stage area. Parents are invited to tour the interactive bedroom to learn to spot risky behavior.

A presentation to include panelists of local first responders, health and wellness experts, and school officials will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. in the performing arts center. Experts will discuss substance abuse (including vaping), mental health, recovery, and addiction prevention.

“Our hope is to educate parents,” said Norwich Township Administrator Jamie Fisher. “We feel like this event will not only support our mission of promoting a healthier way of living but provide resources to help individuals make better choices.”

“Research shows one of the best ways to reduce the chances of teens using drugs by 50 percent or more is having an adult or parent have conversations with them about alcohol and drug addiction,” said Dawn Steele, who serves as an attorney with the City of Hilliard Recovery Court.

Research also shows 50 percent of teenagers have misused a drug at least once.

“We want parents to know they should not wait,” said Hilliard Chief of Police Michael Woods. “Don’t wait to have a conversation with your teen, don’t wait to ask for help, and don’t wait before a small problem turns into an addiction.”

The program is funded by Norwich Township Opioid Settlement Funds. Other cooperating partners include the City of Hilliard Division of Police, Norwich Township Fire Department, Hilliard City Schools, and HART (Health, Awareness & Recovery Together).

No RSVP is required.

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Vote for HPD in Cruiser Photo Competition

September 12, 2023

Show your hometown pride by helping Hilliard police win!

The City of Hilliard Division of Police is participating in the Light Ohio Blue First Responder Photo Challenge. This is a friendly competition among Ohio police and fire agencies for the best cruiser photo.

Vote every day through Sept. 30 here. Hilliard is in Category 2.

The September contest honors the memory of the first responders who lost their lives in service on September 11, 2001.

Hilliard police car with red and blue lights reflecting through fog.

Remembering 9/11: HPD Offers Tours of First Responders Park

August 30, 2023

Residents interested in learning more about First Responders Park will have an opportunity for a guided tour as the nation observes the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The City of Hilliard Division of Police will be offering tours guided by a police officer from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. No registration is required. The tour is free.

Members of the Hilliard police and Norwich Township Fire Department Joint Honor Guard will ring a bell commemorating the times the World Trade Center towers and Pentagon were struck, as well as the crash of Flight 93. The bells will be rung at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., and 10:03 a.m.

Hilliard’s First Responders Park, located in the center of Old Hilliard, memorializes those who died on 9/11 and pays tribute to the 403 First Responders who died making the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

In 2010, a delegation of 20 individuals representing the Division of Police, Norwich Township Fire Department, and the Hilliard community made the two-day round-trip from Hilliard to New York City to escort home seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center.

The memorial features granite walls inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives, a reflecting pool, personalized pavers, a monument honoring fallen officers, and a metal sculpture made from the steel of the World Trade Center.

Those wishing to take self-guided tours can reference signs describing 9/11 artifacts that will be placed in the park throughout the weekend.

The park is open for reflection and remembrance year-round. Learn more about First Responders Park here.

Officer King Joins Team of School Resource Officers

August 18, 2023

The Hilliard Davidson High School community will get to know a new face in a familiar uniform this year.

City of Hilliard Division of Police Officer Ian King will take on the role of school resource officer (SRO) at the high school this August. Officer King will serve in the position for the next four years.

“We’re excited to have Officer King join our team in the schools this year,” said Chief of Police Michael Woods. “His interactions with young people as a patrol officer have demonstrated his keen ability to build relationships, and we know that is essential in this role to create safe and secure learning environments.”

There are a total of six SROs working inside Hilliard City Schools. One officer is assigned at each of the three middle schools and three high schools in the district to embed themselves in the school’s culture. Officers also make regular contact at the elementary schools.

School resource officers fulfill multiple roles in addition to preventing and responding to school-based crime. Officers provide valuable support to students, teachers and staff through their everyday presence and visibility.

“We are proud of our continued partnership with the City of Hilliard Division of Police and our SROs. By having SROs present in our schools, we are enhancing security measures and fostering positive relationships that contribute to a safer environment,” said Superintendent David Stewart. “Building these connections between law enforcement and our school community is integral to our mission of creating a conducive learning space for everyone.”

Officer King has served as a Hilliard police officer since 2019, primarily as a second-shift patrol officer for the past four years. Previously, he served as a police officer for three years in North Carolina.

He is originally from Painesville, Ohio, where he was one of seven children and graduated from Thomas W. Harvey High School.

Additionally, Officer King is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, in which he served nine years, ending his term of service as an infantry sergeant. He is married with two children.

Officer King said he hopes to build a rapport with students and staff by being accessible daily.

“I want them to learn to trust and rely on law enforcement for help, and to be there when they need them,” said Officer King. “When I was In high school, we had a school resource officer, so I know firsthand the benefits of having a police officer in the building.” 

“And as a father, I know the feeling of wanting my children to be safe and secure while attending school,” he said. “Having an SRO present in the schools helps to provide that feeling, and I’m looking forward to playing a role in that.”

Fun Facts About Officer King

What were your high school activities? Football, basketball, baseball, and class clown

What’s the last movie you watched? The Super Mario Bros. Movie with my kids

If you weren’t a police officer, what would be your job? Firefighter. I can’t believe I said that!

What was your favorite school lunch? Cheeseburger

What are your hobbies? Hiking, bicycling, and exploring Metro Parks with my family

Have any favorite sports teams? The Ohio State Buckeyes

Officer stands in front of Hilliard Davidson High School.
Officer King
Team of six Hilliard school resource officers stand in front of a school bus
Hilliard school resource officers for the 2023-2024 school year are, from left, Officer Jon Gleason (Weaver Middle), Officer Ian King (Davidson High), Officer Josh Barnett (Heritage Middle), Officer Shane O’Connor (Memorial Middle), Officer Charles Lupi (Bradley High), and Officer Glenn Rogers (Darby High).
A boy diving into water
A boy blowing bubbles

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