About Our Department

Our Mission

The Lorain Police Department recognizes that it derives its authority from and is accountable to the community it serves. The department will continually strive to provide effective and efficient police service to the citizens of Lorain consistent with the community’s needs and concerns.

We believe that the basic concerns of the citizens of Lorain include a desire for peace, tranquility, and freedom from crime and disorder. The Lorain Police Department’s primary functions are the prevention of crime, the enforcement of laws in a fair and impartial manner and the apprehension of those who violate the laws.

Our actions at all times shall be consistent with the principles of a democratic society through recognition of both the statutory and judicial limitations of police authority and the constitutional rights of all persons.

We further believe that only through a coordinated police-community effort can public order and safety be achieved and sustained; therefore, we will actively encourage community support in a cooperative effort to achieve this mission.

Our Values

Values are the core of our moral beliefs and self-worth. They are convictions that bond us together to accomplish specific tasks and objectives. They are what we share and believe. We, the members of the Lorain Police Department, value:

Constitutional Rights

We shall uphold this country’s democratic values as embodied in the Constitution and dedicate ourselves to the preservation of life, individual freedoms and justice for everyone.

Integrity

Integrity is the absolute honest and ethical personal behavior and performance of duty that must be the hallmark of every member of the department.

Professional Excellence

Recognizing the changing and diverse needs of the community, the Lorain Police Department pledges to establish and maintain high performance standards to ensure public confidence and trust. Professional excellence is a direct result of progressive training, a positive attitude and personal commitment.

Commitment to Employees

Department members shall uphold laws in an ethical, impartial, courteous and professional manner while respecting the rights and dignity of all persons. We will be compassionate and provide assistance to victims and those in need.

Community Sensitive Policing

Community Partnership

Recognizing the fact that police agencies were established as a result of society’s voluntary limitation of personal freedoms, we encourage and expect the participation of the community in facilitating solutions to problems of mutual concern. We therefore solicit and support contributions from all members of this community.

International Code of Police Ethics

A police officer is both a citizen and a law enforcement officer who, on behalf of his fellow-citizens, prevents crime, preserves the public peace, protects persons and property, and detects and apprehends offenders.

It is the tradition of the police profession to be helpful to all beyond the call of duty. A police officer is a servant of the law. Honesty in thought and deed should characterize a police officer’s official and private life. A police officer must be impartial and fair to all people, whatever their social position, race or creed.

A police officer must be incorruptible. A police officer should have a compassionate respect for the dignity of the individual and behave to all with courtesy, self-control, human understanding and tolerance. A police officer must never use more force than necessary to accomplish a legitimate purpose, nor may he ever subject anybody to any form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

A police officer should strive continually to increase his professional skills. In so doing, the officer should seek to gain ever-greater insights into society and human nature.

A police officer must execute the laws and regulations of his jurisdiction and obey orders given pursuant to such laws and regulations. Matters of a confidential nature coming to the attention of a police officer should be kept secret unless the performance of duty requires otherwise. A police officer’s conduct as a citizen should be exemplary.