Lake County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

06/11/2026

UPDATE: ROADWAY HAS BEEN REOPENED

TRAFFIC ALERT:

Please avoid the area of Mentor Avenue and Fairfield Road in Painesville Township. Mentor Avenue is shut down in both directions due to a large amount of debris in the roadway. Roadway will be closed until crews arrive to clean it up. Please use W. Jackson Street or Johnnycake Ridge Road as alternative routes.

Send a message to learn more

06/11/2026

A few reflections on Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

Here in the United States, we pause to think on Elder Abuse Awareness Day to consider how older people in our Country are physically abused, s*xually abused and financially abused. And we should pause to think about such crimes for it is unthinkable that our elders are subjected to such abuses. In fact, I believe we all should implore our legislators to double or triple the penalties for such crimes against seniors.

But today I want to take a moment to reflect with you on the abuse that goes on everyday around us in our Country … failing to honor our elders and storing them away to be forgotten where they are neglected in spirit and heart.

Anthropologist Jared Diamond, who has studied the treatment of the elderly across cultures, has said that the elderly in England and the United States live "lonely lives separated from their children and lifelong friends. Rather than honor them, we view the elderly as major inconveniences to our busy lives. We see them as slow, invalids who cause us to spend too much time in doctor’s waiting rooms, who tell boring stories about their lives from long ago and simply seem to take up space.

What we fail to do everyday in our Country, which is just as criminal as physical, s*xual and financial abuse, is we fail to honor our seniors and see them as great treasures of historical knowledge, and show them great gratitude for the leadership and love they had for us to shape the world and new realities we enjoy today.
Native American cultures, across hundreds of distinct nations, show immense respect to their elders not just for their age, but because they hold the history, survival knowledge, and spiritual traditions of the tribe. They act as vital mentors who bind the community together.

In the Orient, built upon Confucian ideals, these societies operate on the concept of filial piety. Deference to older individuals, caring for them in the home, and honoring deceased ancestors through rituals that are deeply ingrained in cultural obligations. Younger members of the family have a duty to care for the aging members of the family.

In Greece’s monasteries abbots are addressed by everyone as 'Geronda,' which means 'old man.' Abbesses are called 'Gerondissa.' Not exactly terms of endearment here in the US. But there the idea of honoring old age, indeed identifying it with wisdom and closeness to God, is in startling contrast to the way we treat aging in America."

Today I call on each of us to commit ourselves to honoring the elderly in our homes and throughout our communities. As we encounter them on our own journeys in life let us pause to thank them for their journey and what it has meant to our lives and our futures. Spend time asking them to share their life, their journey and ask them to offer us their words of wisdom as we move forward in our lives. And if they cannot speak or move, let us spend time, precious time holding their hand and letting them know we care and they are precious to us.

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

06/08/2026

Officer Dave Keller to retire

Correction Officer David Keller has decided to retire from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office after 29 years of service. He started with us on May 12, 1997 coming from Lakeland Community College’s criminal justice program. He has served in many facets including line officer, booking officer, training officer, and medical officer. He has showed great professionalism in his position. We thank Dave for his many years of service to our Lake County community and our Sheriff’s Office. We wish Dave and his family all of the best!

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

06/02/2026

The members of Lake County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 43 and Willoughby Police Cadet Post 6020 recently had the opportunity to tour the Lake County Juvenile Justice Center and gain firsthand insight into the juvenile justice system.

During the visit, the Explorers and Cadets learned about the laws, procedures, and responsibilities involved in juvenile court and detention operations. They also had the opportunity to hear from Honorable Judge DeLeone and the dedicated professionals who oversee the various divisions of the Justice Center, providing valuable knowledge about how the juvenile justice system serves our community.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Judge DeLeone and all of the staff who took the time to educate our future law enforcement leaders. Experiences like these provide invaluable learning opportunities and help our youth better understand the important role the justice system plays in protecting and serving the public.
#6020

06/02/2026

Congratulations to a number of our staff who have arrived at important anniversary dates here at our Sheriff’s Office.

Sergeant Matthew Pepperney has worked in our Road Patrol Division for the past 10 years.

Sergeant Cheyenne Earl has worked in our Communication Division for the past 5 years.

Thank you for your service to our Lake County community ! Glad all of you are here, and we look forward to having all of you for many more years as part of our Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

06/01/2026

Congratulations to Correction Officer Joseph Parker who has successfully completed his training in the Corrections Division. He is now working on his own in the jail facility. We wish him all the best and expect great things in his future here at the Lake County Sheriff's Office !

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

05/28/2026

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend a sincere thank you to the individual who generously ordered and had Mission BBQ delivered for our Concealed Handgun License Office.

Your generosity and support are truly appreciated. Acts of kindness like this do not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for the continued support from those in our community

Thank you for thinking of us and for your kindness and support of first responders and law enforcement.

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Corrections Officer Seth Aumiller and Corrections Officer Cameron Shawver who have successfully completed their training in our Jail Division. They are now working on their own in the jail. We wish them all the best and expect great things in their future here at the Lake County Sheriff's Office !

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno

05/26/2026

PRESS RELEASE
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE OPERATIONS
May 26, 2026

Last week, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and members of the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force conducted operations as part of the Ohio Attorney General’s statewide Human Trafficking initiative named "Operation Spring Cleaning". Statewide, more than 100 law enforcement agencies working this operation resulted in the arrest of 122 people seeking to buy s*x, including from minors. “Operation Spring Cleaning” was a multi-faceted operation aimed to hold accountable those who exploit survivors or fuel human trafficking by agreeing to pay for s*x. Locally in Lake County, the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Human Trafficking Task Force made 20 arrests of those either providing s*x for money or trying to purchase s*x for money. The task force also identified 17 potential victims of s*x trafficking and offered services to them for help. There are numerous other potential arrest’s coming as a result of these investigations. “If even one victim of human trafficking can be identified and helped, then the operation is a success and worth the effort. We will continue to work to help identify those who are taking advantage of these victims…”- Chief Deputy Robert Izzo.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be part of the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and proud of the collaborative effort of all the involved agencies, especially with the Wickliffe Police Department and Willoughby Police Department which is where this year’s operations took place. In response to the crime of human trafficking, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Organized Crime Investigation Commission, has established several human trafficking-focused task forces throughout Ohio. The NEOHTTF is comprised of federal, state and local agencies investigating both s*x and labor trafficking cases. In addition to law enforcement partners, the task force works closely with multiple non-governmental agencies that provide services to those impacted by human trafficking. The task force provides training for industry, community, and other law enforcement partners related to the prevention, identification and investigation of human trafficking cases. The task force maintains a 24-hour response to reported human trafficking crimes. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call (216) 443-6085 and request a human trafficking investigator contact you or contact 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448).

Lt. Larry Harpster
Detective Bureau Commander



Attorney General Dave Yost’s press release:
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/May-2026/122-Arrested-in-Operation-Spring-Cleaning-Crackdow

05/22/2026

May We Never Forget

Although it comes at the end of what is a happy and carefree weekend for most of us, Memorial Day is not a celebration. Wishing someone a “Happy Memorial Day” might feel appropriate, but it’s actually meant to be a somber day. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, began after the Civil War, which split the country in two as everyone was forced to take a side. Decoration Day provided an opportunity to start healing as a country by coming together and honoring those who had died.

President Ronald Reagan is credited with reviving the practice of honoring Memorial Day and its meaning. One of his famous speeches was given at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in 1986: “Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember.“

Join all of us at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to take the time, not just for Memorial Day but on every day, to remember those who have fallen to ensure our liberty and freedom. For those who never left the battlefields, we must hold them up in our hometowns and honor their memories. May we never forget their sacrifice.

Sheriff Frank Leonbruno