CREATING A BOND
Community policing, resident involvement makes city safer, manager says
Declining crime rates in Hazel Park in recent years are partly the result of police being involved with city residents and business owners, says City Manager Ed Klobucher.
“Hazel Park continues to maintain record lows of crime,” he said. “And it’s an example of a community that has maintained strong bonds with the police department.”
Klobucher credits Police Chief Brian Buchholz for his leadership in the police department and encouraging officers to engage with residents beyond matters that only involve crime.
“Most of all, (lower crime) involves the residents and their support,” he said.
A 2015 police millage in Hazel Park was approved by nearly 80 percent of city voters, city officials said.
Hazel Park saw an increase of new business investment in the city in recent years and an uptick in property values.
Part of the reason, Klobucher said, is that crime rates and property related crimes in Hazel Park have declined in recent years.
Last year, breaking-and- entering incidents dropped 46 percent over the number reported in 2018, according to police. During the same period, larceny-from-building crimes fell 10 percent, while larceny from autos declined 33 percent, and theft of motor vehicle parts decreased 31 percent.
Hazel Park is 2.8-squaremiles with about 16,400 residents. It’s a small city of around 6,500 households, but includes major roads and Interstate 75.
Buchholz said he wanted to focus on community policing since he was promoted to the chief’s position about three years ago.
“We have Neighborhood Watch groups that have been successful and led to keeping open communication with residents and business,” he said. “I’ve wanted to promote that we’re a small town, that when officers see people on the street they should get out of their patrol cars and talk to people.”
Because of the city’s population density, residents are used to seeing police officers on duty.
“I think that helps us have a good rapport,” he said.
Police in many cities nationwide saw protests following the police-involved killing of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. Peaceful demonstrations took place in local cities such as Royal Oak, Ferndale and Hazel Park.
Klobucher and Buchholz went out to two such demonstrations in June and talked to protesters.
“I asked them if they were willing to talk to me and most of them were,” Buchholz said.
“They thought communication was key. I didn’t hear any complaints with what we are doing in our police department. I got a lot of positive feedback.”
Hazel Park police started wearing body cameras two years ago.
Buchholz recommended the move to body cameras, he said, because he believed his officers were doing their jobs professionally.
“I wanted (video) backup to show people that we were doing the right things, so that when we do get a complaint we have evidence,” he said. “The amount of complaints that come in have lessened because they know we have body cams.”
Unprofessional or illegal behavior by some police hurts all the other officers who do their jobs responsibly, Klobucher said.
“No one dislikes a bad police officer more than good police officers,” Klobucher said. “It can
tarnish the extraordinary job of officers who risk their lives every day across the country.”
Hazel Park police officers are supportive of community policing practices and interacting with residents, he added.
“It creates a synergy of cooperation between police and the community,” Klobucher said.
One of the most common complaints police get is about traffic, both in calls to the front desk and on social media.
Safety issues over speeding, stop signs and problems caused by construction are part of each day at the Hazel Park police department.
And traffic stops can lead tomore serious criminal arrests, Buchholz said.
“Traffic enforcement also deters crime and helps reduce crime rates,” he said. “We often obtain illegal weapons, drugs and arrest numerous suspects on warrants from all over (who) can be very dangerous wanted persons, including for murder.”