To enhance the quality of life on Grosse Ile by providing prompt, professional community oriented police services, while enforcing state statutes and local ordinances for a safe and secure community.
The Grosse Ile Police Department consists of twenty-three employees, the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, Lieutenant, Detective Sergeant, Detective, three Sergeants, one of which is assigned to DRANO (Downriver Area Narcotics Organization), nine Police Officers, one Ordinance/Animal Control Officer, four Clerk Dispatchers and an Administrative Secretary. Reverend Edward Aller of St. Thomas Lutheran Church serves as Police Chaplain for the department.
The Reserve Police Department currently consists of nine volunteers, the Reserve Chief, Captain, Lieutenant and six (6) Reserve Officers. In December 2000, we welcomed Reserve Jeffrey Carroll, Reserve Bryan Denson and Reserve Kevin Rose who graduated from Police Reserve Officer Training at Schoolcraft College.
Five residents serve on the Grosse Ile Police Commission. Chairperson Carl Bloetscher III, Commissioners James Jurecki, Paul Anderson, George Gorno and Trustee Kurt Kobiljak as Liaison.
Members of the Grosse Ile Police Department and Reserve Police Department recently had a department photo taken, which is placed in the lobby of the Public Safety Building.
Patrolman John MacDonald retired from the department after almost thirteen years of service and Patrolman Douglas Carmack was recently hired in January 2001 to fill his position.
Last year members of the Police Department answered 16,029 calls for service. 971 written reports were filed by officers, of which 147 were accident reports. Patrol officers issued 1,077 traffic citations. The Detective Bureau had 167 complaints assigned to investigate. The bureau submitted 65 warrant requests to the prosecutor’s office (combined county and local). The Detective Bureau also processed 46 Freedom of Information Act requests and numerous Discovery Motions for case material. Patrol officers issued 329 Notices to Appear for minor traffic violations and gave 2,416 verbal warnings to motorists. There were 337 total arrests, of which 45 were for drivers operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Patrol officers answered 106 fire alarm calls. Department vehicles were driven 154,286 miles.
Our department participated in various Mutual Aid Organizations. Officer Alan Valiquette, an eleven-year veteran of the police department is a Member of the Downriver Mutual Aid SWAT Team. Officer Valiquette attended eleven (11) days of monthly training and six (6) days of SWAT training at the Phelps-Collin ANGB in Alpena, Michigan and has responded to seventeen (17) calls outs to various communities, all totaling 255 hours.
Training remains a priority in this department. Officers attended Criminal Law and Procedures Update; Legal Training; Basic Narcotic Identification; Domestic Violence Response Training; One Party Consent Phone Calls; Bulletproof Mind Mental Preparation for Combat; Safe and Legal Traffic Stops; Avenues of Change; Safety for Seniors; Digital Imagery; CAD Computer and Precision Driving Training.
Members of the department completed a second series of computer based Shooting Liability Incident Management (SLIM) training and testing, covering fatal force legal issues and 25 shoot/don’t shoot decision scenarios.
Officers were Recertified in CPR; Use of the Automatic External Defibrillator; PPCT Collapsible Batons; and Quarterly Firearms Qualification with department issued Sig Sauer sidearms.
Members of the Police Department participated in Downriver Mutual Aid Shotgun Training.
Deputy Chief Skrocki conducted a Mutual Aid Radar Operator Recertification Class at the Public Safety Building.
The Detective Bureau personnel attended training in Use of Forensic Evidence training. D/Sgt. John Szczepaniak attended a Violent Crime Seminar conducted by the F.B.I.
Detective Bow is the Computer Systems Administrator and attended the New World Aegis AS/400 Query Computer and Understanding Network Fundamentals Training.
Officer Pelland attended Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor Development Course and is now a Certified Trainer.
Clerk Dispatchers attended Suicide Intervention; Dispatcher Liability; CAD Computer Training and Terminal Agency Coordinator Training.
Administration attended training on Respect and Responsibility in the Workplace and Records Management and Retention.
Chief Barron attended the Michigan Emergency Management and Hazmat Training Conference in Thompsonville, Michigan and the Michigan Association Chiefs of Police Conference in Bellaire, Michigan.
Deputy Chief Skrocki attended the Michigan Association Chiefs of Police Mid Winter Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Animal Control answered 655 calls for service in 2000 from the front desk, with many additional activities directed through the shelter. Animal Control Officer Schaller was active in the Safety Town Program and again, spoke at Career Day at both elementary schools.
The animal shelter once again was a positive addition to the animal control program. With the help of many dedicated volunteers, the shelter cared for 294 homeless animals. Of that, 39 dogs and 168 cats were adopted. The animal shelter continues to be well respected Downriver.
The Community Policing Program continued its purpose of educating residents in such areas as traffic safety, crime prevention and child safety while continuing to build upon the community policing philosophy. This was accomplished through articles in the newspaper, presentations and safety programs.
Among the programs continued throughout 2000 were the “Operation Chill” safe bicyclist and motorist campaign, the “Click it or Ticket” and Operation ABC Safety Belt programs, Safety Town presentation, and crime prevention presentations to a variety of Island organizations, such as the Senior Citizens Association, Rotary and Downriver Realtors Association.
The Grosse Ile Police Department again teamed up with the Grosse Ile School District in an effort to keep the youth of the Island safe. Over 160, 5th Grade students from Meridian and Parke Lane Elementary Schools graduated from the D.A.R.E. Program, while presentations were delivered to government, civics and health classes throughout the district. Talks with elementary school students focused on subjects such as stranger danger, gun and Halloween safety and shoplifting. Each first grade student was fingerprinted as part of the stranger danger presentation. Officer Kenneth Pelland served as a liaison to the Grosse Ile Middle School organization S.T.A.N.D. to help remind students about the pitfalls of drugs and violence.
A policy and procedure was adopted by the police department and school district in accordance with the Safe and Schools Act.
In March 2000, Community Policing Officer Kenneth Pelland attended the Grant funded Lifesavers 2000 National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia as a result of traffic safety efforts in the Downriver area. Officer Pelland also attended the D.A.R.E. Training Conference in August.
Grant work also played a role in the Community Policing Program. A new grant from The Office of Highway Safety Planning resulted in $65,000 going toward s the “Operation Nightcap” alcohol enforcement detail. The Grosse Ile Police Department was the lead agency in the detail that encompasses ten (1) law enforcement agencies. A $4,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for the reimbursement of bulletproof vests was continued into 2000.
Deputy Chief Skrocki obtained a United States Department of Justice Cops More 2000 Grant in the amount of $25,000.00 to assist with the wages of a civilian clerk dispatcher.
The Detective Bureau was extremely busy and spent seven weeks in Detroit Circuit Court obtaining a conviction in the first homicide investigation involving the deadly drug known as Gamma Hydroxbutyrate (GHB). The Grosse Ile Detective Bureau continues to provide information to other Law Enforcement Agencies investigating similar cases.
The Members of the Grosse Ile Police Department wish to thank our residents for their support. Working together we can provide a quality environment for our citizens.
2000-2001 Annual Report
Printed from Grosse Ile Online
http://www.grosseile.com