This month we are spotlighting the Brunswick Police Department Detectives! The Brunswick Police Department has been a valued Multi-Disciplinary Team partner for twenty years. The Detective Bureau is a strong advocate for trauma-informed practices when handling cases involving child victims. We are incredibly grateful for their expertise and dedication to children in our community.
We asked the Brunswick Detectives to share a little more about themselves so we could all get to know them better.
Roles and Responsibilities
How did you learn about The Children’s Center of Medina County? How did you first become involved with The Center?
The Brunswick PD has worked with The Children’s Center of Medina County since its inception twenty years ago! Back then, the agency was called the Children’s Advocacy Center and was dubbed the ‘CAC’ by our department and we still use this term today!
What is your current role? What do you do in that role?
The Brunswick Division of Police Detective Bureau is comprised of three Detectives and one Detective Sergeant. We are responsible for investigating more complex criminal complaints and preparing these cases for the Prosecutor’s Office. Unfortunately, we often investigate cases involving child victims, and in these circumstances, we rely heavily on the expertise of The Children’s Center to help us gather the most amount of evidence while preventing trauma to the victim.
Personal Insights and Reflections
What are you most proud of in your work with The Children’s Center?
While the Brunswick PD takes pride in all of our casework, the successful dispositions of child victim cases are always the most rewarding both personally and professionally. Without the tenacious work of The Children’s Center, this would certainly not be possible.
What is the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
Years ago our department spent the day training for responding to active shooter scenarios. The late Sergeant Larry Pringle, the most decorated and highly-respected man in the history of our department, was discussing tactics and imparted his thoughts to our group ‘At the end of the day, the goal is to go home to your family. Let this drive your tactics. I will, however, always ask you to put your life on the line for a kid. If you have an active shooter in a school, get your ass in there and handle it. Period.’
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Det. Sgt. Hayest wanted to be his ido, Don Johnson from Miami Vice when he grew up. Det. Derek Zelenka wanted to be a professional race car driver. Det. Merhaut wanted to be a mermaid. Det. Daren Lubinsky wanted to be the winner of Jeopardy -Tournament of Champions. Had we all stuck to our goals and combined our powers, the Brunswick Detective Bureau would be the most intelligent, well-dressed, and fastest-responding investigative dive team in the county!
What is the best part of working for the Brunswick PD?
We are incredibly fortunate to have an administration that understands the need to equip our department with the gear, tools, and technology we need to be as efficient and successful as possible. They also understand that sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, and they are flexible in providing extra time to work ongoing caseloads while trying to meet our personal and professional goals.
Where do you like to go for lunch?
We are fortunate to have a Winking Lizard in Brunswick. A lot of us like to go there on the rare occasion there is enough time for a sit-down lunch.
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
On the weekends, you can find us outside working in the garden, lounging in a backyard pool (above-ground pool; we aren’t firemen after all), spending time with our families, and hiking the local trails with our dogs!
If you could have a superpower, what would your superpower be and why?
Being a person who does not like surprises and takes pride in being prepared for anything, Det. Sgt. Hayest would want the superpower of telling the future. Det. Sarah Merhaut would want the superpower of reading minds – that way you would always know when someone is lying or where to find all of the evidence. An avid CrossFit enthusiast and judge, Det. Daren Lubinsky would want the power of superhuman strength. Finally, Det. Derek Zelenka would want the power of time travel. Being able to go back in time would further his interest and advanced knowledge in theology and history.
Community Engagement and Support
What does the community need to know about The Children’s Center?
The Children’s Center is perhaps the single most important asset Medina County has to assist families in crisis. In the unfortunate event a family in Medina County finds themselves in a position of need, they should be thankful to have such an asset nearby. Not only can The Children’s Center assist individual families with the ever-increasing need for mental health services, visitation schedules, and medical needs; but they can also act as an extension of Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services by speaking on behalf of children in a legally-minded, fair, and forensic way. What’s more, The Children’s Center continues to grow and expand its capabilities. This evolving adaptation to trends and changes in family dynamics, psychosocial understandings, best practices, and legal code, is paramount to their success.
