Organization
Officers
Tom Armelli, Detective CPD, Ret.
Tom is a recently retired Cleveland Police Homicide Detective. He was a member of the Cleveland Police Department for 35 years and has been a police officer for over 40 years.
Tom has been involved with the Cleveland Police Historical Society since its inception in 1983. There was a time when he had touched and had custody of every piece in our collection. Over the years Tom has held every position and worked at every job in the museum. He is currently serving as the President of the Board of Trustees.
Tom’s goal as president is to position the museum to be able to move into a space that it owns, a space that is big enough to accommodate larger, more modern exhibits that incorporate the latest hands on and interactive technology. Tom believes the Police Museum has the potential to be a real catalyst for police and community interaction and good police/community relations.
Under Tom’s direction the Police Museum continues to strive to meet and conform with accepted standards and best practices of an accredited museum.
Tom also established The Inter-National Association of Police Museums, a group of over 50 police related museum located in the United States and Canada that meet annually to share ideas and attend training seminars. The group also includes members from the new National Law Enforcement Museum now being built in Washington D.C.
Tony Colon, CPD
Tony worked for Cuyahoga Community College as a Business Administrator for 9 years. On August 03, 1981 he became a Cleveland Police Officer. He was assigned to the Second District Patrol Unit for nine years, then one year in the Personnel Unit. In 1989 he was assigned to the Canine Unit where he served as a canine handler/trainer and as a State Canine Team Certifier for the next 26 years. His canine partners were Sarge (7 years as partners), Char (7 years as partners) and Jet Black (11 years as partners). He was one of the original member of the Cleveland Police Canine Unit. Antonio retired from the Cleveland Division of Police on February 25, 2015.
After retiring from the Cleveland Division of Police, Tony was sworn as a Cuyahoga County Deputy Sheriff.
Tony's been a member of the Cleveland Police Historical Society Museum (CPHSM) since 1984 and is currently a trustee of the CPHSM. With the CPHSM he has served in the capacity as First Vice-President and Chair/Co-Chair of various committees. Tony was founder of the Hispanic Police Officer's Association and served as its President for 31 years.
He was a member of Indian Princess with his daughter Adrienne for seven years, and as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader with his son Alex for 15 years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Morningstar Lodge #26, Medina, Ohio).
For relaxation, Tony spends his time with his wife Michelle, a registered nurse, where they enjoy yard/garden work and traveling.
Rebecca McFarland
Becky is internationally recognized as an expert on the life and times of Eliot Ness. Her research has been requested for magazines, books, radio, and television specials. “A&E Biography” and the “History Channel” featured her on their programs with regard to Cleveland crime in the 1930s. People Magazine as well as International Press came to cover the funeral of Eliot Ness that she helped to coordinate in 1997.
She is a fourth generation Clevelander who enjoys researching and sharing a variety of topics on Cleveland’s history. She serves on several committees impacting Cleveland as representative to the Northeast Ohio Inter-Museum Council, the Ohio Library Council and the Cleveland Police Historical Society and Museum.
She continues to research Cleveland’s history and to provide informative programs to area clubs and organizations. She is employed doing independent marketing and web site consulting.
Shelley Patena
Trustees
James Jessen Badal, Ph.D.
Bill Bartosch
Robin Hryckowian
Thomas G. Matowitz, Jr.
Patrick Reynolds
Mark Wade Stone
James Traynor, CPD Ret.
Vehicles Committee
Tony Colon, Chair
Greg Savernik
Dale LaRue, OSHP Sergeant Ret.
Phil Rozzi, Court Security
James Traynor, CPD Ret.
Past Presidents
2007-2017
Tom Armelli, Detective, Ret.
2003-2007
Larry Rutherford, Comm. Ret.
1997-2003
Robert J. Cermak, Cmder. Ret.
1996-1997
Patrick Stephens, District 3 Commander
1995-1996
Martin Flask
1989-1995
Michael J. Cummings, Sergt. Ret.
1983-1989
Robert L. Bolton, Cmdr. Ret., Founder
Museum Staff
Executive Director
Mazie Adams
Cop Shop Manager
Geri Diemert
City of Cleveland Officials
Mayor
Frank Jackson
Dept. of Public Safety
Michael McGrath, Director
Assistant Directors
Edward Eckart, Jr.
Timothy Hennessy
Laura Palinkas
Barry Withers
Division of Police
Chief
Calvin Williams
Traffic Commissioner
James Muhic
Deputy Chiefs
Dornat Drummond, Field Operations
Joellen O'Neill, Headquarters
Deon McCaulley, Administrative Operations
Edward Tomba, Homeland Security Operations
Police Commanders
Daniel Fay, District 1
Thomas Stacho, District 2
Thomas McCartney, District 3
Brandon Kutz, District 4
Sammy Morris, District 5
Debra Cavett, Bureau of Communications & Property Control
Ellis Johnson, Bureau of Community Policing
Harold Pretel, Bureau of Homeland Services
Brian Heffernan, Bureau of Integrity Control
James Chura, Bureau of Special Investigation
Gary Gingell, Bureau of Special Services
Deirdre Jones, Bureau of Support Services