CLEE Awards

CLEE AWARDS

Chief Michael Kallai, CLEE Barberton PD, where he spent his entire career, was a friend of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Law Enforcement Foundation. Chief Kallai passed away suddenly while on vacation with his family during the summer of 2010. Chief Kallai was a graduate of the PELC program, was active in the PELC Alumni Association, and several other committees in law enforcement. Chief Kallai graduated from the CLEE program in 2004 with CLASS IX and was appointed to the CLEE Advisory Board shortly after graduation. He was an active member of the Board, and in the middle of his second term on the CLEE board. Chief Kallai was a strong advocate for the CLEE program and actively worked on the board to strengthen CLEE and to ensure its stature for years to -come through his work to create a sound financial future.

Chief Kallai was also active in his community, serving as a varsity assistant wrestling coach at Wadsworth High School as well as being in integral part of numerous other community activities and events.

Following his sudden death, the CLEE board established the Chief Michael Kallai CLEE Award to be granted each year at graduation to recognize one of the graduates who performed exceptionally well in the CLEE academics as well as has an established record of community involvement, as did Chief Kallai.

Captain Michael Rinn, CLEE Akron Police presented the Chief Michael Kallai, CLEE Award to Sergeant Michael S. Schwebs, Sr., CLEE, of the graduating class XXVIII.  Sgt Schwebs began his law enforcement career in April 2014 with the Cleveland Division of Police as a patrol officer assigned to the Community Services Unit.  In February 2017, he was promoted to sergeant responsible for supervising patrol operations.  In November 2020, he was assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit which remains his current assignment.

He received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Tiffin University in August 2018, and his Master of Science degree in the same discipline in December 2021. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College (PELC), Class 80 in November 2021.

As Chief Kallai was active in his community, Sergeant Schwebs is also involved in bettering his community. He served as a board member of the Berea Baseball Association for fourteen years and has served as its vice-president for the past two years.

Congratulations, Sergeant Schwebs on being named the recipient of this prestigious award.

Dr. Ray A. Miller served as the program director for the Certified Law Enforcement (CLEE) program for ten years (2004-2014).  He passed away in June 2014 after a two-year courageous battle with leukemia.  Dr. Miller exemplified the core values of CLEE throughout his highly accomplished life. He was a strong believer in giving to the community. He was an active member of his church and of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.  His contagious smile and affirming pronouncement that “Life is Good!” touched so many in the law enforcement community and beyond.

The CLEE Advisory Board developed the Dr. Ray A. Miller Alumni Leadership Award to be given annually at the Chiefs In-service/Annual Conference to an active CLEE graduate who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in his local community and to the law enforcement profession.