Fire and police chiefs tout new stop‑the‑bleed kits, training and community programs; police report a drop in crime

Fire Chief Mark Newman told the Richmond Heights City Council on Feb. 10 that University Hospitals donated stop‑the‑bleed kits to the Richmond Heights Police Department and that community paramedic Nicole provided hands‑on bleeding‑control training including tourniquet use and wound packing.

"These kits give officers the tools to control severe bleeding during the critical moments before EMS arrives," Newman said, adding that officers were recently first on scene at an incident while the fire department attended simultaneous calls.

Newman also announced an American Red Cross community blood drive scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richmond Heights Community Center and described a free Heartsaver CPR/AED course offered bimonthly to residents; class size is limited to 12 and participants must be at least 16 years old.

Police Chief Kevin Williams reviewed the department report and said overall city crime in 2025 was down "by up to about 14%," noting changes in arrest and citation numbers and praising cross‑departmental efforts on hiring and promotions. Williams also reported that the Richmond Heights Golf Classic raised $10,835.22 in profit for scholarships for graduating seniors.

Both chiefs framed the equipment and outreach as part of broader community safety and resilience efforts. The meeting record shows council accepted the reports and then moved on to other agenda items, including procurement resolutions that authorize purchase agreements for fire hose and ballistic shields. The Service Director and finance staff also briefed council on staffing, leaf collection and audit preparation; a resident urged expanded sidewalk snow removal during public comment but council noted ordinance constraints.