As part of our community policing effort and normal patrol duties, officers are assigned to neighborhoods. Many neighborhoods have designated leaders who act as a contact point for the officer. Generally, the neighborhood leader is involved in Neighborhood Watch or is a participant in the neighborhood association.

Officers contact their neighborhood leaders on a regular basis. This is one important way for officers to learn about neighborhood concerns and to pass on information important to the residents. The Department also hosts quarterly neighborhood leader meetings to allow the leaders to further express current concerns and needs. The Department takes this opportunity to inform leaders of on going developments within the community.

If you are interested in organizing a neighborhood watch program in your neighborhood, please contact Lieutenant Curt Squires at 517.853.4800.

Traffic safety is the most recognizable of all police functions. It also continues to be one of the most expressed community concerns. This, coupled with the fact that the average American is more likely to be involved in a traffic crash than be a victim of crime, drives the Department’s continued efforts in reducing traffic crashes within the Township.

Traffic Safety research focuses on four areas: Enforcement, Engineering, Education and Emergency Medical Services. All play significant roles in the prevention and mitigation of traffic crashes. The Department continually endeavors to address and expand efforts in these areas.

The Department uses bicycles to augment the patrol function. Officers will carry bicycles to patrol residential neighborhoods and parks. The bikes are especially useful during special events such as the annual Township fireworks display that attracts thousands of people.

The Department has two Harley Davidson motorcycles that are utilized for traffic enforcement and special events. Motorcycle patrols provide a key component to traffic safety enforcement.

Officer Blaine Anderson and his dog Ares, as well as Officer Antonio Trevino and his dog Reno, comprise the Meridian Canine Team. The team is trained to work together and is certified in article search, area search, tracking, building search, aggression control, and drug detection.

The Meridian Township Police Department investigates serious injury and fatal traffic crashes by utilizing specially trained personnel. The team will assist first responding officers by taking measurements, photographs, recovering and processing evidence, and by preparing a scaled diagram of what occurred. Speeds, direction of travel, and points of impact can be established by reconstructing the crash scene.

The Meridian Township Police Department currently has three officers assigned to the Special Response Team. The team is a highly trained unit comprised of officers from the Meridian Township Police Department, Michigan State University Police, East Lansing Police, and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. The unit is used to make tactical entries for search warrants where drugs and weapons are involved, or to handle tactical situations that involve a barricaded gunman or hostage situation. The Department also has two officers assigned to the unit as negotiators trained to defuse volatile situations and reduce the risk of injury to any of the individuals involved. The assigned officers perform these duties in addition to their regular police assignments.

Residents are reminded that proper, safe and courteous parking practices will also contribute to the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Please be mindful of your neighbors when parking your vehicle along residential streets. In particular, we would ask that you comply with restrictions listed below.

Handicap Parking Spaces:

Handicap parking spaces are provided to ensure that citizens with health problems have convenient accessibility. These handicap spaces should be clearly marked with an official blue and white sign with the handicap symbol in the center. There are no requirements that a handicap symbol must be on the pavement in conjunction with the sign. For a space to be considered legal handicap parking, there must be a sign clearly visible. Persons parking in handicapped spaces must display a permit from the rearview mirror or have a handicapped plate on their vehicle.

Fire Lane:

Fire lanes are designed to insure that emergency vehicles can respond quickly and safely to an emergency call. All fire lanes are marked with a white and red sign indicating “No Parking – Fire Lane”. Cars cannot park within 20 feet of this posted sign. Usually signs are posted near a building or on a narrow road where parking would create problems for emergency vehicles.

Driver's Side to Curb:

A person shall not stand or park a vehicle ina roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway, headed in the direction of the lawful traffic movement.

No Parking on the Road:

A vehicle shall not be stopped, parked or left standing, attended or unattended, upon the paved or main traveled part of a highway, when it is possible to stop, park, or to leave the vehicle off the paved or main traveled part of the highway.

Other Parking Violations:
Other parking violations that may be enforced in the Township include:

• parking on the grass or sidewalk

• blocking driveways

• blocking delivery of mail to a mailbox

• within 15 feet of a fire hydrants.

Parking Enforcement:

The Meridian Township Police Department’s Volunteer Parking Program began in the Fall of 2001. This special parking enforcement unit conducts enforcement on vehicles that are illegally parked in designated handicap spots or fire lanes. This program uses citizen volunteers. Volunteers help the Department provide more services with little additional cost to the Township. It also promotes Department interaction with the community. All interested citizens are encouraged to consider participating in this successful community volunteer program.

If you have received a parking citation and wish to contest it, contact Lieutenant Curt Squires at 517.853.4800.

Incidents do happen and when they occur drivers should know what to do and who to call. The attached brochure lists three steps drivers should take when involved in an accident. After the accident has been reported to the police department, you should contact your insurance agent to obtain information about your auto insurance coverage. Second, your insurance agent may obtain a copy of the accident report from the police department. Third, you may want to obtain a copy of the accident report for your records.

The brochure explains the procedures, fees, and necessary time needed for processing accident report requests.

Volunteers offer their time and skills to support the police services the Department provides to the community. The Department matches the volunteer’s talents with identified needs in the police department.

If you have an interest in volunteering, contact Lieutenant Curt Squires at 517.853.4800. The Department continually endeavors to expand its number of volunteers.