At a recent Eastlake City Council meeting, a staff member introduced three new police hires — Seth Kleina, Neil Lewis and Jim Sanders — and said the department places heavy emphasis on cultural fit, calling recruits “part of our family.”

The remarks provided context about each officer. The staff member said Seth Kleina has been on the department's books since last July and completed his police academy program in December. Neil Lewis was identified as a graduate of the Lakeland Police Academy and as a lateral hire with prior service on the Tioga County Sheriff's Office SWAT team and time at the Yarbrough County Park District. Jim Sanders was described as a graduate of the Polaris Police Academy in Midburg Heights and as having spent about eight and a half years with CMHA Police.

The staff member framed hiring decisions as partly based on who will “fit within the culture” of the department and said lateral officers often recruit colleagues they previously worked with. “With our lateral officers, you know, those guys are making decisions to come join our family,” the staff member said, adding that bringing lateral hires to the department also means incorporating their families into department life.

The transcript records the introductions and background details but does not record a formal motion, vote or council action related to the hires. It indicates that offers or hires were acknowledged during the meeting — the staff member stated, “our final offer tonight is Jim Sanders” — but the transcript does not show an official appointment vote or administrative paperwork discussed on the record.

The comments combined personnel background (academies attended, prior agencies and years of service) with a stated departmental recruiting approach emphasizing retention and cultural fit. No further policy changes, funding details or follow-up assignments were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.