Latest news with #LebanonPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested, charged in Dec. crash through Square
A Rutherford County man has been arrested in relation to a high speed crash on the downtown Lebanon Square in December. Evidence from the incident was presented to the Wilson County Grand Jury by the Lebanon Police Department's Traffic Unit, resulting in Brandin Veloz, 21, of Murfreesboro being indicted. Veloz was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail Friday, May 30. In the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 15, officers responded to the Square and discovered a white Cadillac sped through the center island of the roundabout, narrowly avoiding the Gen. Robert Hatton statue and also just missing the law offices of Lowery, Lowery & Cherry. According to a press release by LPD, Veloz is the alleged driver and was traveling at approximately 89 mph at the point of initial impact. Police said the crash scene stretched more than 700 feet. Debris from the crash shattered the windows of nearby businesses and inflicted other property damage. Veloz and a passenger sustained injuries during the impact. Police believed alcohol was a contributing factor in addition to the nearly 90 mph speed. LPD had a 360-degree camera set up on the square to monitor traffic during the holiday season, which captured video of the crash. Veloz was charged with speeding, reckless endangerment and two counts of DUI. He was released on a $5,000 bond just hours after his booking. He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Aug. 11.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'You are the heroes.' Dispatchers celebrated by county officials
This past week was National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, and varying agencies across Wilson County recognized the people who play an important part in the first responder process — dispatchers. Dispatchers are often the first point of contact in an emergency, guiding callers through some of the most stressful and intense moments of their lives. During this, they're able to multitask by relaying vital information to responders. The Wilson County Sheriff's Office, Lebanon Police Department, Lebanon Fire Department and Wilson County Emergency Management Agency took to social media to remind the public that the person behind the headset, the unseen coordinator, is just as vital as any police officer or firefighter. 'Our dispatchers are the invisible lifeline connecting the community to emergency responders,' Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan said. 'Their voices guide people through moments of crisis with calm professionalism and compassion, and we are incredibly grateful for the vital role they play in keeping Wilson County safe.' The television drama show "911" is one instance of popular media portraying the job dispatchers do every day, often filled with emotion. The profession can take an emotional toll on each dispatcher, who has to make high-pressure decisions while spending long hours away from their home and family. 'It takes a special kind of person to remain calm in chaos and to be the voice of reassurance for someone in their darkest hour,' Captain Scott Moore, WCSO Public Information Officer, said. 'Our team in the Communications Division is second to none, and we're proud to recognize their commitment during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.' WEMA, in several posts on Facebook, highlighted the individual dispatchers and expressed gratitude for the work they do. LPD informed people that the job doesn't stop during weekends and holidays, as emergencies can happen at any time. 'Behind every siren, every emergency response and every life saved is a calm, steady voice,' MJPD said. 'They are the steady support that helps our officers and first responders stay safe and succeed in protecting Mt. Juliet. Thank you for being the calm in the chaos, the lifeline for our community and the essential force behind every apprehension, every rescue and every call answered. 'You are the heroes.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
'To do him justice': Lebanon Police Lt. William Lebo's sacrifice remembered 3 years later
Before March 31, 2022, Lt. William Lebo would walk most days into work at the Lebanon Police Department. In inclement weather, the 40-year police veteran would often take his green and white striped golf umbrella. "He was just being prepared," Lebo's wife, Lora, said. "He was making sure that he was prepared for all alternatives. " The umbrella remained at the department even after his death and has become a symbol of his work within the community. It now sits at the department's new location on Cumberland Street. That's why Lebanon Police Chief Bret Fisher said it was ironic that it rained on Monday as police officers were in the midst of the memorial umbrella walk celebrating Lebo's legacy. "He took his umbrella so he wouldn't get wet, and here we all had an umbrella walk and didn't have that many of them," Fisher said. "So it will be a fond memory." Three years after his passing and despite a bout of rain, current and former Lebanon City Police Department officers gathered at Optimist Memorial Park Southwest and walked Lt. William Lebo's daily route to work Monday afternoon in remembrance of their fallen colleague and his service to the community. This year they were joined by members of the Lebanon County community, along with officers from various police forces including the Lebanon County Regional Police Department, The Pennsylvania State Police and the Lebanon County Detectives Bureau. Lora Lebo said her husband's walk home from the police station was a way to "wash the day" and be ready to sit down and enjoy time with his family. So when others wanted to join the Lebanon City Police Department's annual walk, Lora Lebo said it was an honor that her husband still deserves three year later. "It's remembering him, which is the most important thing," she said. "That he gave his life for this city, and he lived in this county his entire life and loved this county. So I want to do him justice." On March 31, 2022, Lebo, Officer Derek Underkoffler, Officer Ryan Adams and Officer Kris McCarrick responded to a domestic disturbance report. Lebo died in a shootout with a man who had broken into a home on the 1100 block of Forest Street. Officers Adams and Underkoffler were also injured and underwent emergency surgery that day. Adams left the department and works for the Lebanon County Detective Bureau. Underkoffler returned to the Lebanon City Police Department over the last two months. McCarrick was sworn in as a South Lebanon Township Police Department officer in November 2024. Lebo was a genuine "city cop," according to Fisher. The fallen officer would walk his beat and treat everybody like a person. "It's a grind working in a city, but he loved it," Fisher said. "I think it makes it a bigger tribute that he went 40 years as a city cop and was such a mentor to everybody." On May 7, 2024, then President Joe Biden signed House Resolution 3865, which would rename the 101 South 8th St. post office as the "Lieutenant William D. Lebo Post Office Building.' The post office is scheduled to be dedicated at noon at May 22. Since his passing, Lebo's sacrifice has resonated throughout the commonwealth and the nation over the last few years. The Beyond the Call of Duty Ride to Remember memorial stopped on Cumberland Street in front of the Lebanon City Hall on July 10, with volunteers joining with Lebo's family and members of the Lebanon City Police Department to hold a short remembrance service. On Oct. 23, Lebo was one of 12 Pennsylvania first responders honored for their service by Gov. Josh Shapiro with the Inaugural 2024 Keystone First Responder Award. These 12 heroes were honored for their service and sacrifice in Pennsylvania's law enforcement, fire, correction and EMS organizations, and all of them were killed or suffered a career-ending injury in the line of duty. "I think he deserves it, and I will advocate for him till my dying day," Lora Lebo said. "I think he deserves the praise. He was a good man, he was an ethical man. He did the right thing and he led by example." A sense of healing has been symbiotic over the last three years between Lebo's family and the city police department. The Lt. William D. Lebo Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit created to honor the late officer's memory, provides continuing education scholarships with applications open now with information on the foundation's website. Lora Lebo said she hopes her husband's legacy of community and positive proactive policing really extends beyond Lebanon County. "He was happy, he was kind, he was a good man and he just wanted the best for his county," she said. The Lebanon City Police Department is has a lot of young officers filling the ranks three years after Lebo's sacrifice, according to Fisher. The goal now is to get them following in the fallen officer's foot steps, getting them "out about in the community and talking to people." "Regardless of how many times we do this walk, it will always bring back memories of Lt. Lebo," Fisher said. "It's a reminder of our purpose as police officers. It's a reminder to live up to Lt. Lebo's legacy, to be a good community-oriented police officer, do your job how he would want you to do your job, be professional, always try to give back to the community and to do our best." To donate or volunteer for the William Lebo Memorial Foundation, visit the organization's website at Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon Police Lt. William Lebo remembered 3 years after he was killed
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon mayor says the state of city is 'strong, resilient and full of opportunities'
Low crime rates, economic development and city housing concerns were some of the highlights Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello shared with residents during her annual State of the City address Wednesday, March 26. Speaking to a packed house at a Community of Lebanon Association luncheon in the Hebron Social Hall, Capello said the state of city is "strong, resilient and full of opportunities." Capello said crimes against persons, like homicide, rape, robbery and assault, have decreased by 7% compared to 2023. "Serious crime has significantly decreased over the past decades with 2024 representing the second lowest serious crime count in statistical history," she said. "Our crime numbers are lower than most other cities in our region. Lebanon continues to be safe, but we continue to acknowledge the need to change the mindset of using guns to resolve problems." When comparing the city statistics to those of 20 years ago, serious crimes have decreased by more than 63%, according to Capello. Total crimes against property was the second lowest in the city's history and represents a decrease of 14% from 2023. The city reported only one homicide in 2024, down from six that were reported in 2023. Guillen Fabian-Garcia, of Lebanon, and Mariam Saadoune were charged in a fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man in his home in the 700 block of Lehman Street April 10. Charges for that case include manslaughter by negligence, as the result from a negligent discharge of a firearm in the home. In 2024, four street crimes involving gunfire and nine random gun fire incidents occurred in the city, according to Capello. While random shots spiked in 2012 and street crimes increased in 2023, Capello said the incidents have been relatively stable overall. The Lebanon Police Department logged 46 firearms into evidence in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year. "Despite lower gun violence compared to other cities, the issue remains a significant public health concern and will continue to be prioritized," Capello said. Out of 118 assaults investigated by police, 46 of assault incidents in the city were domestic violence related, which is a 3% rise in the city. Capello said over the last 15 years, domestic violence has significantly decreased in the city. Police made 914 arrests in 2024, up from the 753 arrests that were made in 2023. Officers had to use force to make an arrest, detain a suspect or to protect an officer or resident in 47 of the arrests made in 2024. There were three complaints filed against officers in 2024. Capello said an internal investigation was done on each of those complaints. "I think a reasonable person could determine from our statistics that the city typically uses the least amount of force necessary as per our use of force policy," she said. In 2024, the Lebanon City Police Department welcomed K-9 Ares to active duty partnered with Lebanon City Patrolwoman Erin Secoges. The department also used an $817,000 grant received in 2023 to fund items including officer retention programs, replace and upgrade in-car video systems and add devices to capture and add devices to capture and track license plate data for vehicle related incidents. The unemployment rate in the city ended at 3.3% at the end of 2024. City officials reported a record high unemployment rate at 17.8% in April 2020. In 2024, the median household income in Lebanon city increased to $47,4439. However, Capello said that amount is still significantly lower than the county and the state. "Our percentage of persons below 100% of the poverty level decreased to slightly less than 23% of the population," she said. "These improvements continue to be positives for our community." A housing study commissioned by the Lebanon County Coalition to End Homelessness found households increased by 8% in Lebanon County between 2010 and 2022. That growth was already expected to increase by another 1%, or an additional 580 households, by 2027. Capello acknowledged "the shortage of housing among all affordability levels" in her speech, saying that this is a national trend. City officials used 2024 to further educate ourselves with housing strategies implemented by other cities, and is looking into options with other community related groups. "We acknowledge this is an issue and we are in the process of creating a housing coalition wherein we will create a housing strategy with attainable short and long- term goals," she said. Across Lebanon County, 27% of households have at least one person employed, yet struggle to afford basic necessities, including housing, utilities, food, child care and health care, according to the Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE, report. ALICE records household incomes that exceed the federal poverty level but are not high enough to pay for basic needs. The City of Lebanon, Annville Township, Myerstown and Palmyra were identified by the ALICE report as having more than 40% of households not having incomes to pay for basic needs. The City of Lebanon has not raised taxes over the last 10 years. According to the city's last filed audit, city fund balances for governmental funds increased by $4.2 million and the city's net position increased by $6.5 million. There were 1,723 calls for public safety and fire department calls in 2024, which was a slight decrease of 39 calls from 2023. Capello said almost 48% of calls were for false alarms, 17% of calls were for Rescue & Emergency Medical Services and about 16% for hazardous conditions like vehicle accident clean-up, aircraft standby and gas leaks. Only 30 calls were structure fires with nine calls in the county and 21 calls in the city representing only 1.2% of all city calls for service. The total number of fire-related incidents resulting in property damage was 21, which Capello said marked the lowest recorded figure to date for the city. "We experienced a total fire count of 88, including the response in all municipalities," she said. "This is four counts lower than 2023. Fires continue to represent about 5% of all calls." The city saw one fire-related fatality in 2024 after a 1-year-old child was killed in a house fire Sept. 13. on Brandywine Street. The parents and grandmother are currently facing child endangerment charges. More than $14 million has been invested in the resurfacing of city streets over the last 17 years, according to Capello. A significant increase in resurfacing projects have occurred over the last 4 years due to the 422/72 Project and the use of ARPA funding for paving projects. "Cumberland St., from 5th Ave. to 16th St. was completed in 2024," she said. "This completes the 422/72 Project. Phase 4 alone represents almost 2 miles of street resurfacing. Cumberland St. from 5th Avenue east to the City line and beyond is anticipated to occur in 2026 with PENNDOT as the lead." Officials have started using AI software to assess the conditions of the city's roads. Capello said about 96% of the 94 miles of streets have been mapped and rated on their level of condition. "The use of this tool needs to be further assessed for accuracy, however, with the most recent data, 55% of our streets are in GREAT to Moderate condition, 26% are Moderate to Severe and about 15% are Severe," she said. "Approximately 4% have not been assessed yet." The city has around 100 condemned properties, which represents about 1% of total housing units. In 2024, the city issued 45 new condemnations due to no utilities, and lifted 91. A total of 60 permits were issued to various groups for the use of streets, sidewalks and parks in 2024, with 62 permits issued in 2023. Capello said that the number of permits issued have not returned to pre-COVID numbers, which ranged in the 90s. The city was awarded almost $632,000 for the Lebanon Steel Works project, which will transform the site of the former Bethlehem Steel's infirmary and meeting site into a community space. Property owner Second Sail Development was awarded a 20-year loan totaling more than $1.7M for additional rehab costs to the site. Capello said city officials anticipate this project will result in the creation of more than 70 new jobs. "This project will not only revitalize a key part of Lebanon's history, but will also provide new opportunities for the community's growth and creativity," she said. In 2023, the City received $102,000 from DCNR to assist with funding for a dog park in Coleman Memorial Park. Capello said officials are transforming the former 1.5 acre pool area into a vibrant space for large and small dogs. In 2024, the design of the dog park and bid specs were completed with the low bid of $267,000. Completion of the dog park is expected by July. City officials acknowledge that a majority of small businesses continue to struggle, Capello said. Inflation, labor shortages and online competition continues to have a negative effect on establishments operating their businesses. "In response, the City will move forward in 2025 with a contract for consulting services to create a virtual, on-demand training portal for an unlimited number of small businesses," she said. "Additionally, consulting services will be provided for downtown strategic visioning and developing an action plan." Highlighting the work done in her 15th year in office, Capello said her administration has made a positive impact on the health of the city in many ways. "We acknowledge we have work to do in some areas, especially with our housing shortage," she said. "It is a privilege to serve as Lebanon's Mayor and I assure you that my administration will continue with our efforts to improve our City." Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on Twitter at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon PA mayor: Positive impacts made in the city in 2024
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Arrest made after citizen group brings attention to police
LEBANON, Mo. – A Lebanon man was arrested today for attempted enticement of a child. The arrest comes after a citizen group brought attention to the police. This case has stirred up controversy online. Residents in Laclede County are voicing their concerns after a Facebook post from the Lebanon Police Department addressed the actions of what they call a quote 'civilian vigilante group.' Today we are hearing from the online group 'Operation Soap', which is dedicated to catching child predators. A representative with the group says the post was directed at them 'The Lebanon Police Department spoke out against us and called us a 'vigilante group', which I don't entirely agree with. I prefer, investigative journalists,' says the Operation Soap representative, who chose to remain anonymous. This weekend the Lebanon Police Department posted to Facebook addressing the actions of a quote 'vigilante group' who they say publically outed an individual. The post assured the public that the department is aware of the situation and their cyber crimes task force is investigating thoroughly.'The actions of the suspect were suspicious and, in the eyes of the public, ultimately wrong. However, such behavior by vigilante civilians is dangerous and undermines the legal process,' says the LPD. After this post multiple people that live or lived in Laclede County sent Ozarks First statements over social media. 'To turn a blind eye to all the evidence Operation Soap has on the individual in question because LPD feels undermined by them is unethical & goes to show our local law enforcement is more concerned with their pride than the protection of our children,' says on Laclede County resident. 'The only time they do their job is when it's easy,' says another. The person being accused of child enticement by Operation Soap was arrested by the LPD today, March 9th. 'The Social media trend of 'predator catching' has a noble intent and Lebanon police always appreciate citizen cooperation, however; activist groups may be jeopardizing criminal cases by not reporting them immediately to the police,' the Lebanon Police Chief said in a statement. According to Missouri law cases like these can only be prosecuted if the victim is either an actual child or a law enforcement officer posing as a child. Operation Soap says the group is in contact with law enforcement for days or weeks before they make any moves. 'We send them over the evidence and everything that we have prior to us being there. That way it gives the prosecutor plenty of time to go over the evidence, make sure everything's legally within all the guidelines.' LPD's statement announcing the arrest of a 29-year-old man also said they have to operate under specific rules so the evidence can be used in court. 'The children of our communities are the whole future, of our area and our whole country. They are completely defenseless when it comes to child predators,' says Operation Soap. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
