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Quarterly Report - Third Quarter - 2004

TO: Kenneth D. Krombeen, City Manager
FROM: Vernon L. Snyder, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Quarterly Report – Third Quarter
DATE: October 21, 2004

Listed below is a review of some police activities for the third quarter of 2004; the months of July, August and September.

Complaints Investigated

Performance Report

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY:

On September 4, 2004, Grandville Police and Fire personnel responded to the Saint Mary’s Medical Center at 44^th Street and Rivertown Parkway on a medical.  Arriving personnel located 21 year old Nora Lares who was not breathing.  Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.  An extensive investigation followed that determined that she had died as a result of a heroin overdose.  The death investigation happened to involve some individuals that were being investigated by one of the area drug teams.  Grandville investigators provided information that they had obtained to the ongoing investigation.  Although no one has been charged directly with her death, Kevin Obi, one of the people that she was with at the time of her death, has been charged with heroin trafficking.   

This death and the involvement of heroin in the Grandville community attracted significant media attention.  While heroin has been around for many years, it has seen limited use since cocaine has become the drug of choice.  There has been somewhat of an increase in its use in the past few years, although the stereotypical use still seems to be viewed as a low income, inner city problem.  The truth is that these drugs do not know social boundaries, and there is the potential for the abuse of all types of illegal substances in all communities and all schools.  The department has met regularly with local school representatives regarding the death and drug investigations, and continues to work as a partner in the educational process.            

With few exceptions, most criminal offenses remained at levels similar to last year’s quarter or showed a reduction in offenses.  The city continues to enjoy a relatively low crime rate.  The offenses of sexual assault, robbery, and burglary are pretty similar to last year, while the offense of larceny (not including retail fraud) has shown a significant decrease, both for the quarter and for the year to date.   

TRAFFIC:  

Traffic accidents, which had been up during the past quarter and for the year to date for the first six months compared to last year, were down for the third quarter and more in line with the year to date for the first three quarters.  Alcohol related arrests were up for the quarter and for the year to date.  Traffic violations were up for both the quarter and for the year to date.  

The area red light project was concluded in September.  The effort involved officers from the metro area working together on high crash intersections concentrating on enforcement of red light and seat belt violations.  The project was run for a total of four hours per day on twenty-one days throughout the summer.  A total of 696 vehicles were stopped resulting in 299 red light and 255 seat belt tickets being issued.

The department is waiting for confirmation, but it seems likely that some of the Office of Highway Safety Planning grant money used locally, may be allowed to be used for red light enforcement in the upcoming year.  

On September 17, 2004, a tragic accident occurred on I-196 near 44^th Street resulting in the death of a Grandville High School student who was struck by a car while cutting across the freeway.  This fatal accident is not included in our quarterly totals since the report was taken by the Michigan State Police.  Grandville Police and Fire personnel assisted with the many responsibilities on the night of the accident.  

On July 30, 2004, a serious accident occurred on I-196 near the Chicago Drive ramp.  The occupant was pinned in the vehicle.  Grandville Police and Fire personnel worked together to fulfill all of the responsibilities at the scene.  Aeromed was used for this accident.  We are fortunate in the Grandville area that our normal emergency medical responders can provide appropriate on scene service and transportation to the local  hospitals in most cases.  We are also fortunate to have available the services of Aeromed for those unusual situations where the transport of the victim is delayed due to type of incident.  

COMMUNITY POLICING:  

Community policing officers continued to use both the speed board and the neighborhood speed signs. The department continues to rent the speed board and frequently places it near the schools and in other high traffic locations as the school year begins.  The neighborhood speed signs are placed in residential areas in response to complaints from the residents.  As soon as the signs are placed in a neighborhood, the officer receive requests for additional areas to place the signs.  

The community officers coordinated seven neighborhood parties on National Night Out.  Officers and members of the Grandville Fire Department appeared at all of the block parties and again were accompanied by a military vehicle provided by the Michigan National Guard.  

This year’s Independence Day celebration attracted what most people believe to have been the greatest crowd in history.  The race, little league all star game, and guns and hoses game were all held on Saturday, while the parade, fireworks, and other activities were held on Monday.

This year’s Race for the Cure included over 4,000 participants.  The race starts and ends at Rivertown Crossings Mall.  The route goes south on Wilson Avenue into Wyoming and returns on Canal Avenue through the Grandville High School drive and back to the mall.  The sight of 4,000 runners is pretty spectacular.  The Grandville Police, Fire, and Department of Public Works personnel are assisted by police and public works personnel from the City of Wyoming to make this event possible.  The event raised approximately $250,000 for breast cancer research, with most of those funds being used locally.

Grandville Police, Fire, and Department of Public Works personnel participated with school personnel in Bow-Mac critical incident training.  The Grandville Public Schools had received a homeland security grant to fund the training.  The training was designed to include representatives from the local community agencies that would respond to a serious incident at the schools. 

TRAINING:  

The department has continued to provide appropriate training to its members.  During this quarter, officers qualified with both their handguns and the shotgun.  They were also qualified on the pepperball gun, which is one of the department’s less lethal capabilities.  The officers also participated in simunition training.  This training utilizes role playing and involves the use of decision making and the use of the weapons and tactics that officers have been trained in.

Respectfully Submitted,
Vernon L. Snyder, 
Chief of Police

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