Lebanon Kiwanis

At today's Kiwanis meeting, we were honored to hear from Captain Brian Payne, Assistant Jail Administrator with the Warren County Sheriff's Office. With 26+ years of experience, Captain Payne gave us a fascinating, and eye-opening, look at how our local jail operates.

A few things that really stood out:

🔘The Warren County Jail opened in October 2021 and currently houses around 285 inmates, with 24/7 medical and mental health care on-site.
🔘Nearly half of all bookings last year required a behavioral health referral. The facility is doing real work to address the root causes of incarceration.
🔘A discharge coordinator program is in the works to connect people leaving jail with community resources, a key step in reducing repeat offenses.
🔘Staff wellness matters too, chaplains and peer support teams are available to officers navigating a demanding job.

It's a reminder that community safety is about so much more than just enforcement, it's about connection, care, and giving people a path forward.

Thank you, Captain Payne, for your service and for taking the time to educate our club!

Yesterday we had the privilege of hosting Warren County Sheriff Barry Riley for an engaging and candid community conversation!
Sheriff Riley shared updates on department operations, community safety initiatives, and what it really takes to serve Warren County. A few highlights from the discussion:

🌟The department is fully staffed for the first time in years, a major achievement
🌟Traffic stops have doubled, but the focus is on helping people, not writing tickets
🌟The drone and K-9 units continue to expand, keeping our communities safer in ways we rarely see
🌟Drug overdoses are at an all-time low but su***de cases are on the rise
🌟The department's commitment to youth and community engagement shines through events like Cops and Bobbers

Sheriff Riley's mission says it all: "We seek out those in need and strive to help."

Thank you, Sheriff Riley, for your transparency, your dedication to Warren County, and for spending time with us. And thank you to our members for the great questions and conversation!

🎣Don't miss the upcoming Cops and Bobbers event this Saturday at Armco Park! Registration closes tonight at 8pm.

Last week at our meeting Chief Dipzinski shared an annual update on the department, highlighting the teamwork and coordination required to respond to major incidents like the recent pallet factory fire.

While fire calls have decreased thanks to strong prevention efforts, EMS calls and overall service demand continue to grow alongside our community. The department remains focused on prevention, public education, staff development, and maintaining the equipment needed to keep residents safe.

Thank you to our firefighters, EMS personnel, and partner agencies for their dedication to protecting our community every day.