Kalamazoo, MI:

Effective at 8:00 am on Monday, June 15, 2020, Kalamazoo Public Safety will re-open its Headquarters to the general public for select services. COVID-19 precautions will be implemented during the re-opening. Walk-In Services will resume normal business hours; however, the Records Bureau will be implementing adjusted working hours. The adjusted working hours for the Records Bureau are:

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 am until 3:00 pm • Wednesday: 10:00 am until 4:00 pm • Friday: 9:00 am until 1:00 pm

The City of Kalamazoo has put additional COVID-19 related precautions in place for all buildings opening to the public:

• All buildings and offices will have PPE for staff and the public. • The public will be required to wear a face covering per the Governor’s Executive Order. • Social distancing is required in common areas such as the lobby. • Extra cleaning and sanitizing will occur.

The following service(s) will remain unavailable/closed:

Walk-In Arrests: Walk-in arrests will not be available until further notice.

Fingerprints Orders/Requests: Fingerprint service will not be available until further notice.

The following select services will be available on June 15, 2020:

KDPS Headquarters Walk-In Services

Walk-In Crime Reporting: Walk-in crime reporting will resume during normal business hours. Residents are still encouraged to use online reporting for select crimes through the “Report a Crime” link on our website www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org or to contact the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (KCCDA) for non-emergency incidents at 269.488.8911. If preferred, citizens can advise the dispatch call-taker that they would like phone contact with an officer as opposed to in-person reporting if possible.

Red Med Box: The Red Med Box will be available for drop-off during normal business hours.

Sex Offender Registration and Payments: Walk-in sex offender registration will be available during normal business hours. Payments will be available only during the Records Bureau adjusted working hours.

Property Release: The evidence/property room will evaluate property releases on a case-by-case basis. Please contact 269.337.8130 to speak with an evidence custodian if a property release is needed.

Records Bureau

Traffic Crash Reports: Traffic crash report requests will be handled during the adjusted working hours. Crash reports are still available at www.ecrash.lexisnexis.com. There will be a fee to access your report online. Additionally, the user must provide the KDPS police report number when accessing this information online.

Police Report Requests (non-traffic crashes): FOIA requests for police records will be handled during the adjusted working hours. FOIA requests can still be submitted online at www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org by clicking on the “Resources” and “Freedom of Information Act” tabs. The user must make an account and request a report.

Parking Ticket Payments: Parking ticket payments will be accepted and processed during the adjusted working hours. Parking tickets may still be paid online at www.parkingticketpayment.com/kalamazoo.

Pistol Purchase Permits: Licenses to purchase a pistol will be available during the adjusted working hours.

Gun Permits: Gun permits may be dropped off during the adjusted working hours. Gun permits can still be mailed to Public Safety.

Background Checks: Local background checks will resume during the adjusted working hours. Background checks are still available at www.michigan.gov/ICHAT. There will be a fee to utilize this service. I/Chat will check the entire State of Michigan.

By authority of: XO Danielle Guilds

Kalamazoo:
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety will open up the application process for the position of “Public Safety Officer” on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The application process will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Application: Applications may be submitted online between 05/20/20 and 06/03/20 at the following websites:

1- https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kalamazoomi
2- www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org

KDPS’ hiring process consists of an application, a written test, a physical agility test, a background investigation and several interviews throughout the process. If these steps are successfully completed, it is anticipated that an offer of employment will be given in January, 2021.

Qualifications: To be considered for employment, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, have a High School Diploma or GED equivalent, possess a valid driver’s license, and be 21 years old at time of appointment (January, 2021). Applicants will also be required to pass a written and physical test and undergo an extensive background investigation. Applicants are not required to be MCOLES (Police) certified to apply. KDPS desires candidates with integrity, a strong work ethic, and a desire to serve our Kalamazoo community.

Benefits: KDPS officers are cross-trained as police officers, firefighters, and medical first responders. They respond to calls for police, fire, and medical emergencies, along with performing other duties, within the City of Kalamazoo. Applicants do not need to have prior police or fire certifications to be considered, as KDPS will sponsor them through the police academy and provide fire training, if needed. A training wage may apply to those who need to attend the Police Academy. Additional benefits include a Spanish language bonus, veteran on-the-job training education benefits and the federal direct student loan forgiveness program.

Additionally, KDPS offers lateral transfers for current police officers (MCOLES certified/certifiable). Police officers currently employed full-time and in good standing with another police agency have the opportunity to laterally transfer up to three (3) years of police experience in regards to the current wage scale. This lateral transfer would significantly increase starting wages for eligible new hires.

Advancement Opportunities: There are multiple advancement/additional opportunities for Public Safety Officers to include the position of: Detective, Canine Handler, Community Policing Officer, Narcotics Investigator, Crime Lab Technician, SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Honor Guard, and Command Officer.

Information about KDPS is available at www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org and questions can be submitted through the “Contact” link at the top of the Home Page.

By authority of: Executive Lieutenant Danielle Guilds

Date: April 28, 2020
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Media Contact: Jeff VanderWiere, Assistant Chief, (269) 337-8270

Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Public Safety received credible intelligence that retaliation was imminent over a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning on April 11, 2020. Information obtained was that a group from Benton Harbor, MI was going to travel to Kalamazoo over the weekend in an attempt to seek retribution. Kalamazoo Public Safety was able to identify key persons on both sides of the dispute and conduct targeted enforcement.

On Saturday, April 18, 2020 at approximately 4:00 p.m., Investigators from the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) and Crime Reduction Team (CRT) apprehended one on the involved subjects in the 3600 block of W. Michigan Ave during a traffic stop and was found to be in possession of a stolen handgun and methamphetamine. The 29-year-old Kalamazoo resident was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on the charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a stolen handgun, and felony firearm related offenses.

Shortly after the first arrest, at approximately 5:50 p.m., KVET and CRT Investigators apprehended a second involved subject in the 4400 Stadium Drive who was found to be in possession of a loaded AR-style rifle and methamphetamine. The 30-year-old Kalamazoo resident was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on the charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and felony firearm related offenses.

On Sunday, April 19, 2020, at approximately 12:30 a.m., KVET investigators and officers from the Operations Division intercepted three vehicles in the 400 block of Drexel Ave. that had just arrived in Kalamazoo from Benton Harbor, MI. Occupants of two of the vehicles were detained on scene. Seven subjects and three handguns were located inside the vehicles. The third vehicle fled from the officers and the two occupants were detained after a vehicle pursuit that ended in the 1300 block of Princeton Ave. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle. At total of nine subjects were arrested and the officers recovered four firearms from the occupants. The suspects, all from Benton Harbor, MI ranging in age from 17-24 years old, were arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on several charges including carrying concealed weapons, fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing arrest, and conspiracy to commit murder.

On Monday, April 20, 2020, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to a report of gun shots fired in the 700 block of S. Howard Street. Officers arrived to find several spent bullet casings in the parking lot and a loaded handgun. A description of the suspect vehicle was obtained through witnesses. Later in the morning, Public Safety Officers located the suspect vehicle and a pursuit ensued after the vehicle failed to stop for officers. The pursuit led through several jurisdictions and ended in 200 block of Grandview Avenue in Kalamazoo where the suspect intentionally crashed into one of the pursuing Kalamazoo Public Safety vehicles. The suspect ran from the scene on foot and was later apprehended by PSO Dumond and his canine “Axl” after he was found hiding under a car in the 200 block of W. Maple Street. The 17-year-old Kalamazoo resident was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on the charges or fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing arrest and felonious assault.

Kalamazoo Public Safety would like to thank the Michigan State Police, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo Township Police, Western Michigan University Police Department, and Portage Public Safety for their assistance in the weekend operation.

Kalamazoo Public Safety encourages anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911, Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or report online at www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

By authority of: Captain Matt Huber

Date: April 20, 2020
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Craig Habel, Criminal Investigations Division, 269-337-8139