News Releases

Kalamazoo County Enhances 9-1-1 Services with Smart911

October 16, 2017 by Spencer Bridges

Public Safety Officials Encourage Residents to Sign Up For the Free Service That Provides Emergency Responders with More Information in the Event of an Emergency

Kalamazoo, MI – Public safety officials in Kalamazoo County announced today that Smart911 is now available to all individuals in Kalamazoo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 call takers during an emergency.

Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information.

With Smart911, citizens can link both home and work addresses to mobile phones, which can be passed on to responders in the field for more a detailed, rapid response. Additional information including pets in the home, vehicle details in the event of an accident, medical conditions and even emergency contacts can all be included in a Safety Profile. All information is optional and the citizen has the ability to choose what details they would like to include.

Smart911 is currently available in 40 states and more than 1,500 municipalities across the country. Once entered, your Smart911 profile travels with you and is available to all jurisdictions utilizing Smart911.

Smart911 has been credited with positively impacting emergency outcomes including a missing child where the girl’s photo and physical description were immediately available to 9-1-1 and responders, as well as a heart attack victim where an address and medical notes allowed responders to be dispatched to his location quickly.

Citizens are encouraged to create their Safety Profile with Smart911 today to have their information immediately available to 9-1-1 and to receive emergency notifications. Smart911 is private and secure, is only used for emergency responses, and is only made available to the 9-1-1 system in the event of an emergency call.

By authority of: Sheriff Richard Fuller, Chief Nick Armold, Chief Jeffrey Hadley and Chief Timothy Bourgeois

Date: October 16, 2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Flooded Roadways

October 15, 2017 by Scott Boling

Kalamazoo, MI: On October 14, 2017 the City of Kalamazoo experienced sustained, heavy rainfall that caused numerous roadways to flood. Even though the rains have subsided, many roads are still covered by flood waters and impassable. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety strongly urges motorists to not attempt to drive through flood waters covering the roadway. Water depths over the roads can be deceptive and will quickly disable a vehicle, causing potentially thousands of dollars in damages.

If drivers choose to disregard traffic barricades and drive into flood water in the streets and their vehicles become disabled, their vehicles will be towed in order to maintain open roadways once the flood waters subside. McDonald’s Towing is assisting the City of Kalamazoo with removing the vehicles left in the flooded streets.

Authority of Sgt. Michael Treu

Officers Assist Stranded Motorists

October 15, 2017 by Danielle Guilds

Kalamazoo, MI:

On Saturday, October 14, 2017 around 2044 hours, Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to the area of Crosstown/ Vine for reports of multiple vehicles being stranded in water on the roadway due to vast flooding in the area. While checking the intersection, officers located 6 vehicles in the immediate area that had been overcome by water and were no longer drivable. One vehicle had been enroute to Bronson Hospital when it became surrounded by flood water. The vehicle’s two passengers were assisted from the vehicle and transported to Bronson Hospital. Two adults and six children were extricated from a second vehicle that was semi-submerged in flood waters. No injuries were reported. The stranded vehicles are being left on scene until water recedes and they can be safely removed.

Public Safety reminds motorists that several roadways in Kalamazoo are closed due to flooding. It is imperative that motorists do not drive around “Road Closed” signs or barricades. If you come upon a flooded street, take an alternate route.

Public Safety encourages anyone with information regarding criminal activity to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

By authority of: Lt Danielle Guilds

Date: October 15, 2017

Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy, Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Contact: Captain Vernon Coakley, Kalamazoo Operations Division, 269-337-8142

Kalamazoo Teen Assaulted

October 13, 2017 by Scott Boling

Kalamazoo, MI: On Friday October 13, 2017 at approximately 7:00 a.m. an unknown male assaulted a thirteen-year-old female walking on the sidewalk. The incident happened near the intersection of West Maple Street and West Crosstown Parkway. The male suspect reached out grabbing the victim as he rode a bicycle by her. The suspect continued riding the bicycle away from the scene southbound on West Crosstown Parkway. The victim was not injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately sixty-years-old with a white “Scruffy” beard. He was wearing a red jacket, faded blue jeans, gray stocking cap and black wire rimmed glasses.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation is asked to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

By authority of: Sgt. Jason Hendrick

Campus Party Store Armed Robbery

October 11, 2017 by Spencer Bridges

Update: On October 11, 2017 detectives and patrol officers from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety continue to investigate the above armed robbery. Through this investigation video surveillance from the targeted business and surrounding area were reviewed providing additional information in this matter.

Included with this update is video footage obtained from the targeted business. This is footage of the armed robbery occurring. Also included are still photos of a person of interest and vehicle that were seen in the area around the time of the robbery:

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is seeking assistance from the community regarding the identification of this person of interest.

Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8139 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Authority of: Sgt Charles Treppa

Kalamazoo, MI: On October 10, 2017, at approximately 11:15 P.M., officers were dispatched to the Campus Party Store, located at 2627 W. Michigan Ave, in reference to an Armed Robbery in progress. A soon-to-be customer was on his way in to the party store when he noticed a man pointing a gun at the clerk. The witness ran back to his vehicle and called 911. Moments later KDPS received an emergency call from the clerk of the party store reporting the robbery.

Officers later learned that a middle aged white male came into the store, armed with a handgun, and demanded money from the clerk. As the clerk emptied the register, as requested, he took advantage of a brief opportunity to disarm the suspect. The clerk fiercely reached for the gun and ripped it out of the suspect’s hands. The suspect scooped up as much money as he could fit in his hands before running out the doors.

The suspect was seen leaving the area on foot, westbound on W. Michigan Ave. A perimeter was set up and a K9 track was attempted. Due to heavy rain and foot traffic the track was quickly ended and the suspect was not located.

The suspect appears to be a middle aged white male. His face was covered with a black, tube style, cold weather mask. He was wearing an olive drab winter hat with jeans and a crew neck sweatshirt.

Anyone with further information on this case is encouraged to call Kalamazoo Public Safety at 269-337-8120, or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

By authority of: SGT Kristie Hofer

Date: October 10, 2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Vernon Coakley, Criminal Investigations Division, 337-8139

Kalamazoo County Enhances 9-1-1 Services with Smart911

Flooded Roadways

Officers Assist Stranded Motorists

Kalamazoo Teen Assaulted

Campus Party Store Armed Robbery

City of Kalamazoo News

Kalamazoo Public Safety

Administration