Community Services & Programs

The Whitehouse Police Department is proud to offer the following services and programs to our residents and local businesses.

Bicycle Patrol

Whitehouse Police has several officers dedicated to the bike patrol unit. These officers use bicycles in addition to their motor vehicles to patrol Village streets and shared-use paths. Officers assigned to this unit also are available to conduct bicycle safety talks for organizations and civic groups.

Business Contact Update

The Village of Whitehouse is committed to providing excellent services to the businesses in town. Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire so that our records can be updated. Included in this form are questions related to your business’s security needs, so that together we can develop a security plan to best suit your needs.

Fill Out Online Form

House Watch

As a service to our residents, the Police Department will check on your residence while you’re away. If you will be on vacation for any length of time, an officer will come to your residence to check locks, windows, and be sure that no damages have been done while you’re gone.  House watches are only available for residents in Whitehouse’s police jurisdiction.

House Watch Form

House watches can only be scheduled for a minimum of 3 days (72 hours) and can be set for an unlimited amount of days.

  • The residence must be vacant for the duration of leave in order to obtain a house watch
  • To begin a house watch, or to cancel a house watch, contact us at: 419-877-9191.

Police Speakers Available

The Whitehouse Police Department offers complimentary speakers on a variety of law enforcement topics including personal safety, home security and legal issues. In addition to providing speaker services, the agency can provide relevant articles on crime prevention or other law enforcement matters to your organization.  To request a speaker, e-mail:  abaer@whitehouseoh.gov or mmcdonough@whitehouseoh.gov.

Driving RoundaboutsRoundabout Training

Please Click on the link below for a PDF Power Point on Driving Roundabouts. At the end of the document, there is a YouTube link for further explanation.

Driving Roundabouts

 

Motorists, Pedestrians and Crosswalks – Public Safety Announcement
The PD is often contacted by citizens regarding the proper procedures for motorists and pedestrians at marked crosswalks in the village, especially on the Wabash Cannonball Bike Trail at Providence St.  This location uses a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) to warn motorists of pedestrians preparing to or entering the crosswalk.  Other locations in the Village that utilize RRFBs include Finzel Rd. at the Anthony Wayne School Campus, Indianapolis and Waterville St., and Waterville St. at Whitehouse Square Blvd.
Officers do monitor these areas to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. It incumbent upon everyone using the trails, crosswalks and roadways to adhere to these laws for everyone’s safety.
Please check out the information on the ordinances listed below:
371.01 RIGHT OF WAY IN CROSSWALK.
(a) When traffic control signals are not in place, not in operation or are not clearly assigning the right of way, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield or if required by Section 313.09, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(c) Subsection (a) hereof does not apply under the conditions stated in Section 371.03(b).
(d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
NOTE: The RRFBs are activated with a push button located near the crosswalk.  When the pedestrian lights at marked crosswalks are activated, motorists are advised to slow down and prepare to stop when pedestrians have entered into the crosswalk-however-motorists are not required by law to stop for the flashing yellow signal if there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk. Pedestrians crossing the roadway cannot dart out into traffic and should use caution before entering the crosswalk.
HOWEVER: Once a pedestrian is safely in the crosswalk, he/she has the right-of-way and motorists MUST YIELD until all pedestrians have safely crossed the roadway before moving again. It is a good idea that before entering the crosswalk, pedestrians look and wave at the driver so they have their attention.
Check out the video link that provides additional information when using the flashing pedestrian crosswalk signals.

Safety Town

Safety Town is geared towards children that are heading into Kindergarten, approximately ages 5-6 years old. Our team of volunteers and educators will be teaching several safety classes on topics including Fire, Police, Electrical, Animal, Health and Wellness, Bicycles, Water, Gas and more!

Safety Town will be held June 12-16 2023, from 9:00 AM – Noon at Whitehouse Primary School. The registration fee is $40.00/child.  For more information, contact Officer Christine Fouty at cfouty@whitehouseoh.gov or 419-877-9191.

Security Survey

Officers will visit homes and businesses and provide tips on how to better secure your premises. An officer will walk through your dwelling and check items such as window and door locks. He/she will make recommendations regarding lighting and landscaping that could help deter a criminal. You will be provided a checklist of items to periodically assess with respect to making your dwelling safe and secure. You also will receive other informative crime prevention literature.

If you would like a security survey of your home or business, contact our Certified Crime Prevention Specialist by phone at: 419-877-9191.

Senior Contact Program

Whitehouse Community Senior Contact Program

The Whitehouse Safety Services (Police & Fire Departments) has established a Senior Contact Program. Please review the program details listed below. If you have any questions, or if this is a program you or your family member would be interested in participating, please contact Chief Mark McDonough at 419-877-9191, or email mmcdonough@whitehouseoh.gov.  Enrollment form: Senior Contact Program Enrollment Form

What is the Senior Contact Program?

The Village of Whitehouse Safety Service Departments (Police and Fire Departments) are in the process of initiating a Senior Contact Program. In this program, seniors who qualify will be asked to contact Police Department by phone on a regular basis (Monday to Friday).  The phone call serves to ensure the program participant is ok, and/or if he/she would like additional services from the Village.

Who Qualifies?

Persons living alone who DO NOT have a caregiver, homemaker, etc. checking or visiting on a regular basis.  Participants in the Senior Contact must have two emergency contact persons living within a close proximity of the Village of Whitehouse.  If the person does not have an emergency contact available close to the Village, please contact Chief McDonough for further guidance. 

Application Procedure

Persons who request or have been referred for this program will be interviewed by the staff of the Village Police or Fire Departments to determine suitability. Accepted applicants will be required to complete and sign the application/release form.

Referrals for this program will be taken from seniors within the Whitehouse community, family members, agencies and organizations working with seniors, or from individuals who are aware of seniors who live alone and could benefit from this program.

How Does the Senior Contact Program Work?

At a predetermined time every day (usually between 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., M -F), program participants will call the Police Department on a non-emergency number by telephone. The call will be brief – the intent is to ensure the person is okay.

If the Police Department does not receive a call from the program participant, a police employee will call back to try and make contact. If there is no answer, individuals listed as an emergency contact on the application form will be contacted to check the welfare of the program participant. The person contacted must be willing to physically check on the senior to ensure all is ok. If the emergency contact persons cannot be contacted or cannot check on the senior, a police officer will be sent to the senior’s residence to check on his/her welfare.

Police officers/Firefighters can make periodic home visits, on an appointment basis, to provide information on crime prevention tips, personal safety, and inspect or install smoke detectors.

Solicitor Permit

The permit application and attachments must be turned in no less than five nor more than fifteen days prior to the commencement of the canvassing, solicitation, or peddling.  A separate application must be filled out for each individual that will be canvassing, soliciting or peddling.  If the application is approved, a certificate of registration/solicitor’s permit will be issued. The permit is good for a period of six months.

Any person canvassing, soliciting, or peddling for purposes set forth in Section 731.01 of the Codified Ordinances shall do so only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday, with the exception that none of these activities shall be permitted at any time on any State or National Holiday.

Please access the Solicitor Permit Form from our Forms Page.

Starting and Growing a Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch programs help keep neighborhoods and communities safe. Starting a crime prevention program—or reviving one that’s already been started in your neighborhood—can reduce crime in your area and give you a greater sense of security, and can even help improve your property’s value.

If you live in an area without a watch program, it is even possible to begin your own. Crime prevention programs require organization, good communication with other people from your neighborhood and good problem-solving skills, but by working in partnership with the police and your neighbors, you can start a successful crime watch group.

Click for More Information

Traffic Directed Patrols

Requests for speeding or other traffic enforcement in Village neighborhoods can be made by contacting the Whitehouse Police Department.  Officers will be assigned to directed patrols for traffic education and enforcement.

The Traffic Safety Program includes the use of Lucas County Sheriff’s Office automated speed-monitoring trailer. This trailer is battery and solar panel powered and is able to monitor motorists’ vehicle speed in a given neighborhood for several days at a time.

If you would like to request traffic directed patrols for your neighborhood, contact Deputy Police Chief Todd Kitzler at 419-877-9191, or email tkitzler@whitehouseoh.gov.  Officers will be assigned to perform directed patrols of your neighborhood.  Please be specific when notifying our department (i.e., speeding, loud noise, etc., and the time of day which it is occurring) so we can best accommodate your request.

Vehicle Lockout Assistance

Whitehouse Police offer vehicle lockout assistance to anyone in the Village. Should you accidentally lock your keys in a vehicle, contact the Lucas County Communications Center by calling 911.

The owner/operator of the vehicle will be required to sign a Release of Liability form prior to an officer completing the unlock service.

Vehicle Unlock Services—Release of Liability

For valuable service received, I hereby release the Village of Whitehouse, Lucas County, Ohio, the Whitehouse Police Department, and all agents, officers and employees thereof, from any and all liability for damages which may occur to my motor vehicle as a result of opening of said vehicle by the Police Department to remove the ignition/door key which has been locked inside the vehicle.  The owner/operator of this vehicle certifies that they had authorization to operate this vehicle and hereby make this release.