West Cleveland News

The City of Westlake recently celebrated the swearing-in of a new sergeant and honored several officers for their exemplary service throughout the previous year. The ceremony was presided over by Mayor Dennis Clough.

Steve Barnie, who served in the U.S. Army before spending the past six and a half years as a police officer, was sworn in as the police department's newest sergeant, according to a Facebook post by the Westlake Police Department.

Barnie is set to continue his duties as a member of the WEB Bomb Squad and with the police department's drone unit, as stated in another Facebook post by the Westlake Police Department.

During the ceremony, Clough presented awards to two other officers. According to another Facebook post by the Westlake Police Department, Ptl. Mike Thompson was named Officer of the Year for 2023, an honor decided upon by his fellow police department employees.

In addition, Digital Forensics Examiner Richard Johnson was voted as the Westlake Police Department Employee of the Year, according to yet another Facebook post by the Westlake Police Department. This marks Johnson's third time receiving this honor. As he was undergoing training at that time, his stepfather accepted the award on his behalf.