Mark And Lori Lehman's Role In Criminal Justice

WOOSTER — Christmas is a time of giving, and for the past three years, Mark and Lori Lehman have been giving to law enforcement because the couple wants them to know what they do is important.
The Lehmans, joined by a Grace Group led by Executive Pastor Dave Lawson, provided a Christmas dinner for officers of the Wooster Police and deputies from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Monday.
The group, which included Mark and Lori Lehman Dave and Julie Lawson, Bruce and Kristy Schemrich and Deb Fetzer, transformed the Emergency Operations Center in the Justice Center into a dining hall with ham loaf, carved ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, tossed salad and iced cookies.
“The support Mark and Lori, and the group, give us is amazing,” Wooster Police Chief Matt Fisher said. “They spend money out of their own pocket to support us. In this day and age, to have that support means a lot.”
Law enforcement means a lot to Mark Lehman.
His father, the late David Lehman, served as a Wooster police officer in the 1950s and 1960s, leaving the force shortly before the 1969 flood. After the flood, he was asked if he would help the Police Department, and he did.
Mark Lehman has another connection with law enforcement. He grew up with John Quicci, who is a lieutenant in the Wooster Police Division. The two wanted to be police officers growing up.
“Dad always talked about how he hated that he always had to miss Christmas,” Mark Lehman said. “I was in the Marine Corps for four years and missed a couple Christmases. It makes you appreciate what police do.”
And, that is what motivates Mark and Lori Lehman, showing appreciation for what officers and deputies
do.
“I just always wanted to do something for them,” Mark Lehman said. “I want them to know people care about what they do.
“My dad said, ‘Police always like a good coffee and a good doughnut.’”
Three years ago they began taking coffee and doughnuts to Wooster officers on Mondays during the colder months, starting in November and wrapping up in April. Two years ago, they added the Sheriff’s Office. After the coffee and doughnuts, the Grace Group got involved to cook dinner for the officers and deputies. They started off with having just one dinner a year, in April. Now, they have scheduled them every other month. This was the first year for the Christmas dinner.
Capt. Doug Hunter of the Sheriff’s Office said the Christmas dinner went beyond a typical office Christmas party. Families were invited to share in the festivities.
“We’re thankful we live in a fantastic community, as far as people expressing support for law enforcement, and this family has taken it to the next level,” Hunter said. “A lot of times, the media would have you believe people are against law enforcement, but that is not the case.”
“We want the police to know we respect them and care for them and appreciate what they do to keep our families safe” Dave Lawson said. “This is nothing more than to express our appreciation and gratitude.”
“They put their lives on the line day-in and day-out,” Lori Lehman said. “In this climate, we want them to know we respect them, we have their back.”
Following the dinner, each police officer and deputy was given a gift, a homemade iced cookie in the shape of a police badge or a sheriff’s badge. The children at Wooster Grace Church made Christmas cards for each one, too.
Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or [e-mail]. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.