SAGINAW TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT
OVERVIEW
Our Mission Statement:
The Saginaw Charter Township Police Department respects the rights and dignity of all citizens, and is committed to providing professional law enforcement services with integrity, leadership, diligence, and concern.
Our Vision Statement:
The Saginaw Charter Township Police Department is a value driven law enforcement agency working in partnership with our citizens to provide quality law enforcement services in a courteous and professional manner for the safety and well being of our community.
Department Programs
The Saginaw Township Police Department is involved in several programs that affect all divisions within the department. Some officers are assigned to duties that are department related, such as Crime Prevention, and School Resource. Others are assigned to area cooperative units like S.C.A.T.T. (Saginaw County Auto Theft Team), and BAYANET (Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team).
The department also is involved in several other programs. These include Police Explorers, Citizens Police Academy, Crime Free Multi Housing, District Resource Officers, which are assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit, and Bike Patrol. Some of these programs have been in use for some time, while others have been or are being instituted to help us become more in touch with the citizens of Saginaw Township. Other programs are still in development stages. Another program offered is the Crime Information Hotline (791-7233). The Hotline gives residents a daily update on crimes in their neighborhoods that are noteworthy.
One of the longest running in house programs we have is our E.M.T. (Emergency Medical Technician) Program. It was put in place in 1975 and is still a very strong presence in Saginaw Township. Many of our officers are Michigan State certified E.M.T.'s. The latest development in this area is the addition of several A.E.D.'s (Automatic External Defibrillators). These costly units were made available through donations by area residents and businesses, and through fund raising efforts of the Saginaw Township Police Officer's Association.
The Saginaw Township Police Department also maintains two other important programs, Police School Crossing Guards, and the Parking Enforcement Team. Our Crossing Guard unit has been in place for many years and has provided accident free service during that time. The Parking Enforcement Team has been valuable in ensuring that disabled citizens, both residents and visitors to the area, have proper parking afforded them when visiting businesses in our community.
To find out more about any of the programs noted above, please click on the keyed words.
Law Enforcement Oath Of Honor
On my honor,
I will never betray my badge,
my integrity, my character,
or the public trust.
I will always have the courage
to hold myself and others
accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the constitution
and the community I serve.
In addition to the sworn personnel, the department also has 18 Police Crossing Guards, 3 Parking Enforcement officers, and 5 civilian support staff.
These personnel serve a community of approximately 40,000 people and cover about 26 square miles of commercial, residential, and farm lands.
Forward To Basics
The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.*
During the 2001 calendar year, the Saginaw Township Police Department will be involved with the citizens in our community in a "Forward To Basics" program. This program is based on several principles. Although not new in concept, these principles will work to reduce crime, and increase the quality of life in the community. In order for it to work, the police and the public need to work together. Our focus is to be creative in our techniques and approaches to preventing crime as opposed to the standard of being "call driven". The philosophy is to move residents, businesses, and the police department, toward a renewed sense of ownership within our neighborhoods, commercial areas, and the township as a whole. Since in this day and age, neither the police department nor the citizenry can solve crime problems by themselves, it is important to key on teamwork to reach our goals.
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.*
As part of the program, officers will be assigned in teams consisting of road patrol officers, investigative detectives, and crime prevention detectives, to individual districts within Saginaw Township. The assignments will be for an unspecified length of time, The intent is for those officers to become more familiar with residents and businesses in those areas, and to garner a working partnership with them. In effect, this will become a township-wide community policing project.
Among the projects will be a revitalization of Neighborhood Watch programs, Crime Free Multi-Housing programs, and the Citizens Police Academy. All of these programs involves an active relationship between the police department and the public. By working together using these projects, crime can be reduced.
The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.*
* Sir Robert Peel, 1788-1850, Nine Principles of Modern Policing
Personnel
Sergeants:
Blake Andrews, John Pelkki, John Sadowski, William Masica, Rick Herren
The Saginaw Township Police Department Road Patrol Division consists of a lieutenant, 4 road sergeants, one administrative sergeant, 24 road patrol officers,18 police crossing guards for schools, and 3 parking enforcement officers.
All officers are state certified and licensed through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Officers receive both in-service and course-offered training on a regular basis.
Equipment
The Patrol Division has 14 fully marked patrol vehicles, and two semi marked traffic enforcement vehicles. The entire patrol fleet consists of Ford Crown Victorias for patrol officers and two Expeditions for Supervisors. We also have a Mobile Command Unit. This is a cube van that serves as an all around vehicle for special events as well as an investigation unit for arson and serious traffic crashes. All of the patrol vehicles are full police package and are fully equipped for all types of calls. Five of the cars are also assigned to Emergency Medical Technicians for responding to calls of a medical nature.
All of the cars are equipped with Mobile Data Terminals that connect officers via computer to Saginaw Central Dispatch. Through the computer, officers are able to obtain information at a moments notice from LEIN, NCIC, and the Secretary of State. Through the computer systems, officers also are capable of issuing traffic violations to traffic violators. The citation is then sent immediately to the courts via wireless transmission. The cars still use radios for communication also.
We now have a radar and video recording systems in every district assigned patrol car. In addition to the radars that are mounted in cars, we also have several hand held standard and laser radars.
Chief's Corner
Chief Donald F. Pussehl Jr
Saginaw Township Police Administration
STPD Mission Statement
STPD Vision Statement
ONLINE CRIME TIP
