Meet Police Chief Daniel Grispino and Snack Shack Operators Jen Ferns and Saree Doyle

Beyond the Badge: Police Chief Daniel Grispino 

With an updated badge on his chest and a passion for mental health protocols in his heart, Beachwood’s new Police Chief Daniel Grispino is poised to make a positive impact in the community. 

“Being the chief is not about my title but rather the increased impact I can have on the community, the officers and the profession,” Grispino says. “I am humbled that Mayor (Justin) Berns and the City of Beachwood have entrusted their confidence in me with this critical role.”

Grispino touts 23 years of experience as a police officer, 18 of those in Shaker Heights, where he worked in nearly every aspect of the police department. 

As the City of Beachwood’s police chief, Grispino envisions a new strategy of policing that focuses on mental health. 

In 2024, Grispino authored a federal grant that helped create Ohio’s first Regional Mental Health response program, and he served as the law enforcement liaison for the program, conducting training with the supervisory clinician at each of the police departments for all of the new cities that joined. 

The program is known as First CALL (Crisis Assistance and Local Linkage). It includes an alternative crisis response team comprising behavioral health clinicians and peer support staff who engage with individuals experiencing mental health distress and substance use disorders. 

“The intersection of mental health and policing has long been a complex and sensitive issue,” Grispino says. “From personally responding to many mental health calls in my career to experiencing the origination of the pilot mental health response team in Shaker Heights, I knew more could be done.”

Grispino adds that diverting calls that don’t require police intervention ensures that individuals in crisis receive the care they deserve and allows officers to remain available for emergencies where their skills are most needed. 

“By embracing these solutions, we can create a system that better serves our communities, reduces unnecessary burdens on law enforcement and ultimately saves lives,” Grispino says.

In addition to his goals of focusing on mental health within policing, Grispino strives to ensure the department adheres to professionalism and preparedness. 

“We will continually look for new ways to engage and serve our community more effectively, ensuring we are forging new relationships and fostering the ones we currently have,” Grispino says. “Lastly, (we will focus) on preparedness through training to ensure our entire community feels safe, vibrant and welcoming.”

When he’s not wearing his uniform, outside of work, Grispino enjoys camping with his family, visiting various Ohio state parks in his travel trailer and kayak fishing.

Behind the Counter: Jen Ferns and Saree Doyle

Snack Shack co-owners Jen Ferns and Saree Doyle, the 2025 contracted operators of the concession stand at the Beachwood Community Family Aquatic Center, serve up much more than sweet treats for pool and playground patrons. The Snack Shack is a place where friends can meet up during rest periods to enjoy a cold treat on a hot summer day, where families can gather to catch their breath and where kids can regale their friends with tales of their latest adventures on the diving board or water slide. 

Longtime Beachwood residents, Ferns and Doyle took over the Snack Shack at the beginning of the 2025 season. 

“Growing up in Beachwood and spending many summers here as a camp counselor at Kidz Camp has allowed me to observe the necessity and significance that this has on our community,” says Doyle, who also previously worked at the snack bar one summer. “Working there gave me a sense of being a central part of the community during the summer. I was able to build relationships with members of the community I wouldn’t typically interact with.”

The menu is similar to those in years past with items like candy, soft drinks and quick bites such as pizza, chicken nuggets, wraps and more. However, this year, there’s a new feature: Doyle and Ferns developed an app for online ordering that’s available for both Apple and Android. 

“Every rest period, there were long lines, which caused a delay in ordering and a wait for food,” Ferns says. “That would cause chaos in the small vicinity where people are sitting to eat their food. With the app, we’re trying to reduce the line and wait time and speed up the process overall.”

Doyle and Ferns believe the updates to the Beachwood hangout will help better serve pool and playground visitors.  

“The Beachwood Snack Shack is a place where two families decided that they could collaborate together with their backgrounds and create a new summertime destination,” Doyle says. “Whether you are trying to afford a family meal within a budget or just want to come see the weekly specials, the Beachwood Snack Shack should be on your top-priority to-do list this summer and for summers to come.”