Fairview Park Police Officer Awarded “Policeman of the Year”

Patrol Officer Adam Reyes won the Fairview Park Police Department’s “Policeman of the Year Award” in a ceremony held on February 25^th. Adam was nominated for the award by one of his supervisors and was then confirmed by the Award Board.

Officer Reyes, who joined the department in 2016, has consistently been a leader on the department in proactive performance. He is always seen with an infectious smile and has a very positive attitude. In 2019, he led the department in traffic stops, traffic citations, and OVI arrests. He has received advanced training in OVI enforcement for both alcohol and drug impairment. His supervisor went on to recount several incidents in which Officer Reyes excelled in not only enforcement, but also lifesaving and community engagement.

In the first, a robbery suspect who had stabbed his victim in Cleveland, was thought to have headed into Fairview Park. The suspect was found by another officer, and while being questioned on the sidewalk, became belligerent and uncooperative, refusing to allow a pat down for weapons. Officer Reyes had heard the radio broadcast of our first officer, responded to the area, and was able to get behind the suspect unnoticed. He and the other officer then grabbed the suspect, wrestled him to the ground, and secured him till Cleveland Police arrived. In a search, a bloody, 4 inch sliver of glass was found as well as other instruments of the crime. Neither officer was injured, the suspect was not injured and a violent felon was apprehended due to Reyes’ actions.

In the second, Officer Reyes responded to the scene of an accident where an alcohol and drug impaired driver travelling in excess of 50 mph went left of center, striking a tow truck where the tow driver was impounding a vehicle for our department. The flatbed of the tow truck came down on the leg of the driver, crushing it and pinning him underneath. When another responding officer used the controls to lift off the truck bed, Reyes immediately recognized the tow driver was losing lots of blood. He quickly dashed to his cruiser, got a tourniquet, and applied same to the leg. Both paramedics and the trauma doctors stated that Reyes’ quick action saved the life of the driver.

The last incident occurred when the schools had a “Walk Your Child to School Day.” One of the Fairview students had recently lost his father, and Officer Reyes quickly volunteered and took the father’s place, walking the boy to school in his stead.

Officer Reyes’ actions in 2019 exemplified our department mission to consistently seek and find ways to affirmatively promote, preserve and deliver a feeling of security, safety and quality services to members of our community, and truly earned him the designation of “Policeman of the Year.”

Honoring Former Patrol Officer Phillip Schult

Fairview Park Police commissioned a plaque and dedicated it to the family of former Patrol Officer Phillip Schuld. Fifteen members of his family attended the ceremony. Officer Schuld fell ill during his shift in February of 1970 and drove himself to the hospital. He ended up being admitted, and several days later passed away from heart issues, which ran in his family. He had served the citizens of Fairview Park for 15 years before succumbing to his illness. The circumstances surrounding his death do not qualify him for the Fallen Officer Wall, but our agency wanted to honor a man who fell ill while serving his citizens and ultimately passed away.