In his Sheriff's Corner this month, Lake County Sheriff Rich Martin speaks on building relationships to promote public safety.
Pioneer file photoDuring my over 27 years in law enforcement in the public, private, judicial and recreational sectors, I have maintained a high standard of integrity which I believe is essential in the criminal justice field…especially in this day and age. When we talk about “police reform,” I refer to that as actually “police improvement.” How can we better serve the community is what it is all about.
During the past several years we have improved the entire working relationship and mission of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Changing from complaint based, to also include crime prevention, creating a department that works with the community with the primary mission of serving the community. As public servants, that is what we are here for. Of the many issues facing the law enforcement community today, maintaining public trust is another main objective.
Some of the past, current and future accomplishments include: working with area law enforcement partners, the implementation of a case tracking system, improving relations within the community, sponsorship of local employees to send to the police academy, ordering of bodycams, a future drone project, responding to medical calls, law articles in the paper, recreational rule videos, charity programs that give back to the community, the retainment of officers, advanced training for officers, membership in the area Emergency Response Team (SWAT), crime reporting and communications with the townships and villages and advanced and current equipment. This is no longer the department that is on an island, but part of a regional team.
With that being said, we are one of the only departments that has a full, current roster. Officers are coming here to work, versus what has happened in the past. As evidence, out of the last police academy conducted at West Shore Community College, 3 out of the 9 graduates came to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to work. No other department achieved this. State law enforcement accreditation is our next goal.
The main function and purpose of the sheriff’s office is to promote public safety and operate a safe, humane correctional facility, as well as operating an animal shelter which in our case practices a no kill policy. Our deputies are in a position of trust and responsibility for the community. I believe it is important to continually promote high expectations and a clear mission for the sheriff’s office. Furthermore our mission states: “Providing exceptional public safety services while serving with Honor, Integrity and Dedication to those who live, work and visit Lake County.”
CALLS FOR SERVICE
It's time for the monthly "calls for service" report. This will provide you with an idea of the prior month's response for public safety services within the county.
- 3500/VCSA 2
- 911 HANG UP 5
- 911 TEXT 1
- ABANDONED CALL 2
- ABANDONED VEHICLE 3
- ACCIDENTS FALLS 33
- ACTIVE SHOOTER (PRACTICE) 3
- ALARMS 32
- ALLERGIC REACTION 8
- ANIMAL BITES 2
- ANIMAL CONTROL 42
- ANNOYANCE THREATS 10
- ASSAULT 11
- ASSISTING OTHER AGENCIES 36
- ATTEMPT TO LOCATE / WELL CHK 31
- BE ON THE LOOK OUT 21
- BEAR COMPLAINT 1
- BLEEDING 4
- BREAKING AND ENTERING 14
- BREAKING AND ENTERING IN PROGR 4
- BREATHING DIFFICULTY 42
- BURNS 2
- BUSINESS PROPERTY CHECK 64
- CAR ANIMAL 3
- CAR DEER 7
- CHEST AND HEART PROBLEMS 17
- CITIZEN ASSIST 13
- CIVIL COMPLAINTS 20
- CIVIL STANDBY 14
- CODE K 8
- COVERT INVESTIGATIONS 2
- CPR CHILD 3
- CPR INFANT 3
- CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT 2
- DIABETIC 7
- DISTURBANCE 12
- DOMESTIC 20
- DRIVEAWAY 2
- DUMPING COMPLAINT 1
- EMS ASSIST 5
- EMS COVERAGE 44
- EMS TRANSFER 59
- FIRE ALARM 2
- FOLLOW UP 69
- FOUND PROPERTY 6
- FRAUD 7
- GAS ODORS 3
- HARASSMENT 16
- HEAD INJURY 2
- HEADACHE 1
- ILLEGAL BURNING 1
- JAIL PICK UP/TRANSPORT 30
- JUVENILE 5
- JUVENILE RUNAWAY 2
- LARCENY 40
- LIFT ASSIST 3
- LINES DOWN 3
- LIQUOR INSPECTION 1
- LOST PROPERTY 1
- MDOP 6
- MEDICAL ALARM 15
- MENTAL EMOTIONAL 19
- MISSING PERSON 3
- MOTORIST ASSIST 6
- OPEN LINE 2
- ORV TRAFFIC STOP 36
- ORV ACCIDENT 7
- OVERDOSE 1
- PAIN BACK ABDOMINAL 7
- PAPER SERVICE 20
- PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENT 36
- PPO REQUEST VIOLATION 2
- PROPERTY CHECK 29
- PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT 8
- RECKLESS DRIVER 18
- RECKLESS ORV 6
- ROAD HAZARD 11
- SEIZURES 9
- SHOOTING 1
- SICK UNKNOWN 73
- SILENT OBSERVER TIP 1
- SMOKE/UNKNOWN FIRE 4
- SOR CHECK 1
- SPECIAL EVENT COVERAGE 8
- STROKE 13
- STRUCTURE FIRE 8
- SUICIDE/ATTEMPTED SUICIDE 1
- SUSPICIOUS PERSON 11
- SUSPICIOUS SITUATION 26
- SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 19
- TRAFFIC STOP 250
- TRESPASS 10
- UDAA 1
- UNCONSCIOUS UNRESPONSIVE 20
- UNWANTED PERSON 15
- VEHICLE FIRE 2
- VIN INSPECTION 3
- WARRANT ARREST 7
- WATER INCIDENTS 3
- WATER PATROL 12
- WATERCRAFT TRAFFIC STOP 6
- WEAPONS 2
- WILD LAND FIRE 4
This information is provided to you for clarification on specific laws, and not legal advice. This is not to be construed as a personal opinion, agreement or disagreement of any specific law. Topics covered are for educational and informational purposes only. As needed, excerpts from other articles are used for reference and/or content. If you have any questions on any specific topic, you may always email me your questions to rmartin@co.lake.mi.us.
