Can the police enforce the visitation schedule that my ex and I have been operating under if it is not a Court order?

No. There are many cases where separated parents have children and have established a visitation schedule for their child(ren) among themselves. This informal schedule may work for months and even years without any disagreement between the parents, however, the problem arises when the parents disagree about whose day it is or when one party withholds the child(ren) from the other parent. If the police are called there is no way for the schedule to be legally enforced. Therefore, when parents are able to reach an agreement without the need for court intervention, it is extremely beneficial to spend your resources to have an attorney prepare a Stipulation and Order (formal agreement) memorializing the agreement. A Stipulation and Order will become an enforceable court order once it signed by the Judge and filed with the Court.