6676 Lake Michigan Drive
P O Box 539
Allendale, Michigan 49401

Ph: 616-895-6295
Fax:616-895-6670 and
616-895-6330

Office hours:
Monday-Friday, 8am - 5pm

ANY EMERGENCY - 911
Missing/Runaway Child - 911
Accident - 911
Animal Control - 911
Parking/Traffic - 911
Lost/Found - 911

How to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff Department

Sheriff's Dept
(Administrative Office)
772-1840
846-9170
669-2800

County Prosecutor
846-8215

Silent Observer
392-4443

Protective Services
(Child Abuse/Neglect)
394-7220

Ottawa County Sheriff Department
616-662-3100

Michigan State Police
Grand Haven Post
616-842-2100

Federal Bureau of Investigation
616-456-5489

Secret Service
616-454-4671

Sex Offender List
http://www.mipsor.state.mi.us/

Statewide Sexual Assault Help Line
1-877-NO-MEANS-NO

A Year in Review
By Sgt. Chris Koster

Allendale Charter Township contracts with the Ottawa County Sheriff Department to provide enhanced police services to the community.   Currently, two officers are assigned to the Township, while the  third shares responsibilities between the Township and the Allendale School District.

Deputies provide traditional police services, including criminal investigations and traffic enforcement, while also being involved in many community policing programs.  This year, Dep. Cannata was promoted to Detective and Dep. Dill left the Township to go to County District Car.  Dep. Schickinger replaced Dep. Dill, and Dep. DeWitt replaced Dep. Cannata.  Dep. Schickinger became certified as a child safety seat inspector and is working with Lakeshore Safe Kids Coalition at the child safety seat check in the Township.

National Night Out was combined with the Back to School Fair in 2007 with great results.  The Sheriffs Department worked with Allendale schools and other safety providers to educate residents in safety awareness.  Deputies also fit over 150 children with free bicycle helmets provided by Lakeshore Safe Kids Coalition.

Deputies continued to develop the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program and worked with apartment managers on issues related to off campus student housing.  Dep. Schickinger has set up monthly meetings with the off campus housing managers to discuss issues as they arise and allow the managers to coordinate and share resources.

Deputies taught many educational classes in the schools and through Allendale Community Education, such as Substance Abuse Violence Education, alcohol awareness in driver’s education, radKIDS, ORV, snowmobile, and boater safety.

In 2007, Sgt. Koster wrote a grant to the Allendale Community Foundation for two TASER units.  The grant was approved and the TASER units where purchased.  The TASERs have been assigned to Sgt. Koster and Dep. Schickinger.

In 2007, traffic citations were up 10% from 2006.  We continue to focus on traffic in the Township and Lake Michigan Drive school zone.  Calls for police services where also up 6% in 2007.

Community Policing can be reached by calling the Township offices at 895-6295.   Residents are reminded that if you need police, fire, or ambulance service and it is an emergency,  call 911.   If it is a non-emergency, residents are asked to call 1-800-249-0911.

Patrolling M-45

Patrolling M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) for speeding, passing on the right, etc., is a continuing project for our officers. Please be aware that unless there are designated passing lanes, passing on the right is not allowed...this includes intersections! Also, with construction work being done along M-45, posted speeds must be adhered to!

Student Party Issues

Parents of high school students in the area are urged to be aware that an alarming high percentage of students at the "GVSU" parties ARE NOT GVSU STUDENTS at all, but high school students. Parents of high school students must become aware of the whereabouts of their children, and be aware of the potential social problems that the mixing of partying high school and college aged students can create!

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is a group of concerned people working together to drive crime from their neighborhood. Watch members get to know their neighbors and work with them in spotting and reporting crime to the Sheriff's Department.

The security of a neighborhood and its citizens depends upon the people themselves. The police department cannot function effectively unless it has the support and cooperation of the people it serves. The neighborhood and the Sheriff's Department should work together towards the elimination of crime. The Neighborhood Watch Program establishes a communication system between the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department and the neighbors.

The Community Service officers of the Sheriff's Department coordinate the program, and work in cooperation with the local Neighborhood Watch group and the community organizer, called the Neighborhood Liaison. The Neighborhood Liason will help you to organize and maintain a Neighborhood Watch Program in your area.

Our Community Service Officers are available to speak to your group on a variety of Crime Prevention topics such as home security, and personal safety. For more information call 1-800-764-4111.

It is important to involve as many people as possible in your Neighborhood Watch, the more people involved, the more effective the program. A goal should be established to get at least 50% of the people on the block involved. The area covered by your group should be one city block, this is known as a "Block Club". On one city block, everyone is close together and all homes are visible to those in the area. After your block is established, you can invite residents on nearby blocks to set up their own "Block Clubs" and to work with you to keep your neighborhood safe.

In the beginning, a temporary block captain should be chosen. Once the program is started, a block captain, and an assistant should be elected. The block captain is responsible for scheduling regular meetings and keeping members informed, but has no more legal authority than any other citizen.

What are the responsibilities of the Neighborhood Watch Member? First, get to know your neighbors, be able to recognize them and where they live. This will help you to recognize strangers. Second, look beyond your own home, see what is happening in your neighborhood, is someone prowling around a house, is there a strange car in a driveway, are your neighbor's lights on when they normally are not? Whenever suspicious activity is observed, Notify the Police Immediately. Don't assume that it is "probably nothing". The police would rather answer ten unfounded suspicious person calls, than miss just one burglary or other crime that could have been prevented.

Calling 911

When reporting a serious harm or the threat of imminent harm to life or property, a YES answer to any of the following questions would indicate an emergency situation.

Is there an injury or probably injury?

Is a crime in progress or about to happen?

Will immediate response result in apprehension?

Is there major damage or threat of impending danger?

Is there a hazardous condition which will not go away unless action is taken?

When reporting a crime please speak SLOWLY, and CLEARLY, giving all known information.

Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you that they have all the information needed, and they terminate the telephone call.