Fallout of failed Ypsilanti Township police millage could mean slower response times, less proactive policing
Ypsilanti Township officials say the impact of a failed police millage Tuesday won’t be immediately known, but residents can expect to see slower response times to certain calls and less community-oriented policing.
Township officials plan to meet with administrators from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department next week discuss a new staffing plan. They say it’s likely the township will be forced to reduce the staffing level from 38 to 28 deputies in 2010.
File photo
Voters defeated the measure to raise an additional 2 mills for police protection by just 169 votes.
The impact to citizens won’t be clear until after officials from the sheriff’s department, township and county meet, but changes will occur, said Mike Radzik, the township’s director of police services.
“People will feel it. It won’t be a positive impact, that’s for sure, but just how negative it will be is to be determined,” Radzik said this morning.
If passed, the increase would have cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 an additional $200 annually until 2013. Nearly 70 percent of voters approved a millage renewal for police protection in May, which maintained the township’s police budget at about $5.4 million.
But by late summer, grim revenue projections tied to declining property values and the closure of the GM Powertrain Plant showed the budget couldn’t fund the 38 deputies currently under contract for next year. Each deputy contracted through the county costs $144,802.
Despite some initial reluctance, township officials said they put the measure on the ballot after a summer survey showed more than 58 percent of township voters would back the tax levy.
But the measure passed in just nine of the township’s 20 precincts, according to the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Web site. It received the most support in precincts 2 and 3, made up of neighborhoods on the township’s west side bordering Pittsfield Township, which has its own police department.
Election results show millage opposition was strongest in Precincts 5 and 6 (62 percent), which covers the northeast corner of the township, and in precincts 15 and 16 (66 percent), which encompasses areas west of Whittaker Road between Merritt and Ellsworth Roads.
Fewer than 16 percent of the township’s 38,307 registered voters cast ballots.
Millage supporter Linda Mealing said she feared low turnout would doom the measure from the start.
“When you add it all up, people have to decide how much they are willing to pay for police protection, and to me, it was worth it. I don’t know what’s going to happen without 10 more deputies,” said Mealing, a resident of the West Willow neighborhood since 1970.
Radzik said officials believe the police millage was overshadowed by the contentious countywide school enhancement millage, which voters countywide shot down by more than 8,200 votes Tuesday. In Ypsilanti Township, 66.5 percent of voters said no to the schools millage.
“It’s just speculation, but some people I spoke with said they had a hard time voting for both and didn’t want to take a chance of their tax bills going up 4 mills,” Radzik said.
Officials with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department couldn’t be reached for comment today.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
nxil2009
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 6:04 a.m.
Surprise! The millage went down. Do you know that the Lieutenant for Ypsilanti Township has been threatening his deputies with discipline for 2 years because they weren't writing enough traffic tickets. So they write more tickets (purely for revenue to save the job of a court clerk) and when it comes time to ask for a millage (more money) the citizens say NO! And why are we voting on a millage to pay for the service the township is mandated to provide? Why isn't that being paid for out of the general fund money? Is it because this way Stumbo can hold a gun to our head and threaten to cut public safety while the township pays for round-a-bout studies and frivolous lawsuits that pad the pockets of their bedmates? Get rid of these gangsters!!!
YpsiYoungin
Fri, Nov 6, 2009 : 1:13 a.m.
"Police do not respond timely and it isn't because of work related issues." Really? Do you have ANYTHING to back-up this ignorant statement? "On the North side was a Sheif deputy sitting in his SUV police eating a sandwhich and talking on his cell phone... he made me wait about a minute before even rolling down the window while he finished his phone call. I now it was a personal call because he finished the conversation with "I love you." Well, God forbid this deputy take a lunch break in his car (because he was probably too busy to take a break at the station) and call his wife to tell her that he loves her before the next life-threatening situation he is placed in. And a whole minute to stop his wife from her yapping and offer you his whole undivided attention? What nerve he must have! Do you honestly think cutting 10 deputies (when the township was previously under-policed) will really improve police services? You will be in for a rude awakening. I agree with the prior statement stating that it is understandable if tax-payers don't want more taxes, but blaming the already overworked police of the township... That's ridiculous. I pray for Ypsilanti Township's protection come January. Ypsi Twp's criminals must be rejoicing right now. Lock your homes and load your shotguns!
Kent2525
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 2:42 p.m.
What we need is to have everyone turn off their TV sets and start watching their Neighborhoods. Watching 8 hours of TV every night is part of the problem. Get outside, start talking to your neighbors. Watch out for each other, wave to all that pass by your house. Watch the movement of every person that passes by your house. If you see a young girl walking by your house alone, get out and ask her if she wants someone to walk with her for a wile. Help each other out as much as possible. Everyone should have a can of pepper spray in their pocket, a bat next to the front door, or a gun if you belive in guns. You cant rely on Police to keep you alive, even if we had 150 cops on patrol, Crime will still happen. Police respond to calls of crime, not stop crime before it happens. If their is alot of crime in your area its your fault not the Police. You are the only one that can control your neighborhood. Either take back your neighborhood or hide inside your house watching TV like we are doing now and for the past few decades. You are either part of the problem or your part of the solution. What's it going to be? If you want to sit on your assss and do nothing, than dont wine when prices on everything go up because the government has to do it for you. I have lived in the same place for 20 years, I watch everyone, I wave at everyone that I know, I stare at everyone I dont know. So for 20 years their has been no crime anywhere around my house. I think that I have made a difference around my house for the better, and I am just one person. I hate quoting this person but hear it goes /// it takes a village.
acme
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 1:58 p.m.
The City already had its opportunity. It failed. The City's idea of collaboration is to have the township subsidize the city. No Thanks. The sad fact is the City will very shortly be in a position where it can't afford even minimal services. It would be very dangerous for the township to collaborate with a city whose finances are in such jeopardy. It's the equivalent of becoming a partner with a business on the edge of bankruptcy.
Martin Church
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 1:06 p.m.
Instead of talking to the county maybe it is time to sit down with the City of Ypsilanti and talk about the city providing the police services. It's time to move on sharing public services to cut our taxes. After all the county is not doing the township any favors. Let's let the police departments start bidding for the work.
jakemyboy11
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 12:47 p.m.
MCclain and Winters??? Now THAT needs to be looked into!!
jondhall
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 8:48 a.m.
I think the law form was the longstanding we can handle "MCClain and Winters"?? Hum, imagine that, imagine that, maybe they can put that contract out for bid, imagine that? If the tax assessor did her job properly then maybe, just maybe, the residents would not mind reaching deeper, just maybe? What a novel idea.
glimmertwin
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 7:42 a.m.
Unfortunately, the way things are going in this country is it's every man for himself. One of the fundamental things of government is to protect it's citizens. Instead, it spends time and money on who can marry who, whether little Johnny should get a free flu shot, or whether chickens should be permitted in someone's yard. Nowadays you can't count on anyone to enforce financial institutions to be honest, protecting your children from criminals, politicians from robbing citizens blind... nothing. Put your money in a curtain rod and arm yourself. At the rate we are going, it's the only thing you can count on anymore.
acme
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 7:36 a.m.
If we're going to establish our own department, we will still have to pay for a full contingent of county sheriffs as well as all the administrative costs. We can't eliminate the costly county department just by refusing to contract for patrols. If we establish our own department or collaborate with another, we will pay more for the duplication of services. But if we do decide to pay for policing other than at the county level, we should not consider joining with the City of Ypsilanti. All the townships, or some of the townships, could consolidate and provide much better service at much lower costs than the City of Ypsi could. Take a good look at the proposal that the City of Ypsilanti made a year or two ago when they suggested a merger. Their plan would save 2 million dollars a year for City residents but would increase costs of policing for all but one of the townships. It's not fair, it benefits the city at the expense of all others, and should not be considered.
af3201sps
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 5:49 a.m.
The defeat of the police millage was a vote against the WCSD. I voted NO not because I wanted less police protection. The WCSD has a very, very poor relationship with citizens of Ypsilanti Township. The deputies are rude and uncaring when you ask them for help. When you call 911 and request police you are verbally abused and treated rudely. IF a deputy shows up, they are unprofessional, arrogant, and uncaring. They have created a "us against them" mentality and as a result do not have the support of even the law abiding families in Ypsilanti Twp. Last year I tried to report drug activity in my neighborhood and when I drove up to the deputy who was parked on a side street talking on his cell phone, he was rude, did nothing and drove away. Also last year I had to call 911 when a neighbor was assaulting his wife. The dispatcher was rude and the police never showed up. On another occasion when I tried to report drug dealing in my neighborhood, I spoke with Sgt Hankampf, a WCSD shift supervisor who told me "there was nothing the sheriff's department could do" because they were "too busy". A couple of years ago I had my credit card stolen and used. I contacted WCSD and filed a report. They were able to locate and identify the suspect but I was told they would not prosecute because it was a "waste of time". Sheriff Clayton stated he would rebuild relationships with residents and he has not. He has failed and he has failed in allowing his dispatchers and deputies to continue the poor attitude they have toward the public they are supposed to serve. I have friends who work and have worked for the WCSD and they say nothing has changed. In Canton Township, the police department is professional and the residents support their police department by continually supporting police millages. Canton has been rated nationally as one of the safest communities to live in. Unprofessional and rude conduct by its officers and dispatchers will not be tolerated by police administration in Canton. Canton police work in partnership with the community to solve and reduce crime. This is an area where the WCSD has failed. Ypsilanti Twp needs a new policing model. Regional policing with Ypsilanti city may be the way to go. It is time for change that is for sure. The WCSD has lost the trust of Ypsilanti Twp residents and it is time for residents to have a police department that they can trust, is responsive, and accountable. If you try to complain to "Police Administrator" Mr Radzik (a former deputy), he will not return your phone call or email. He is very hard to get ahold of. I wonder why we do not eliminate his highly paid position and use the money to put a couple more deputies on the street. Why do we need a "police administrator" working for the township when the deputies are supervised by the sheriff and their own command officers? Ms. Stumbo, Ms. Roe, and Sheriff Clayton. I hope you are listening and reading. No more overpaid deputies who provide ineffective service. All three of you are losing the trust of residents and we demand change. We will no longer trust you to overspend our money without accountibility. We will no longer tolerate unprofessional and ineffective services.
glimmertwin
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 4:52 a.m.
>>Maybe they could get Dunkin Donuts or Tim Horton's to kick in a little cash? LMFAO! Unfortunately, the way things are going in this country is it's every man for himself. One of the fundamental things of government is to protect it's citizens. Instead, it spends time and money on who can marry who, whether little Johnny should get a free flu shot, or whether chickens should be permitted in someone's yard. Nowadays you can't count on anyone to enforce financial institutions to be honest, protecting your children from criminals, politicians from robbing citizens blind... nothing. Put your money in a curtain rod and arm yourself. At the rate we are going, it's the only thing you can count on anymore.
Honez
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 3:03 a.m.
Casimer points out that complaining about police protection is self serving. What Casimer fails to realize is that police do not respond timely, and it isn't because of work related issues. I saw a drug deal going down on the south side of Chapel elementary school a couple years ago, so I decided to walk around the north side to avoid the situation. On the North side was a Sheif deputy sitting in his SUV police eating a sandwhich and talking on his cell phone. When I went up to his window to report what was going on, he made me wait about a minute before even rolling down the window while he finished his phone call. I now it was a personal call because he finished the conversation with "I love you." After I reported what I saw, he continued to play with his cell phone. As I rounded the building to head back home, he never left spot. In every situation I have ever encountered a police officer, they have been the self serving individuals.
Honez
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 2:46 a.m.
Why not issue more tickets for litter, trash, and ordnance violations? This could do two things: generate revenue and clean up Ypsi Township's eyesores.
BIGDYPSI
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : 12:10 a.m.
I think the township and county need to reevaluate giving businesses big tax breaks ie "GM POWER TRAIN" didn't we learn anything from the willow run closing a few years back, I knew it was going to happen again before long how soon we forget. Give the taxpayers a break they dont up and run to the next good deal.
blazinbill
Thu, Nov 5, 2009 : midnight
Maybe they could get Dunkin Donuts or Tim Horton's to kick in a little cash?
casimer
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 10:11 p.m.
reddog - You have been terribly misinformed or choose to misinform others. There are 38 deputies soon to be 28. And what is so political about vicious dogs and shooting guns in neighborhoods?
casimer
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 10:06 p.m.
By the way, Monroe's population is 21,000 and employs 40 police officers. Ypsi Twp's population is 53,000 and employs 38 police officers, soon to be 28.
reddog801
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 9:57 p.m.
The article is completely mis-leading. The WCSD is not a proactive department and never have been. They do not do ANY community policing. Ypsi Twp already forks out with our takes over $150,000 PER DEPUTY. We don't have 38 deputies, we currently have 28. Now that number will go down to 18. I recently went to a neighborhood watch meeting and it was nothing but political, had the ordinance guy there telling us our dogs were vicious and that we could not discharge firearms in the twp. ALL political. There was a plan to start a regional police force, its still on Ypsilanti cities website. It's still feasible. I voted no on both because we as residence don't need anymore tax hikes. The County has to find a way to make this work with out taxing the residents each and every time. We are living in tough economic times, Michigan is a land of just about nothing now, except scums and homeless people and people that want to hurt the residents by breaking in their homes and vehicles. Hope they say a prayer before they come to my home and do so, or Glock.40 will get a work out and there will only be one story to tell.
casimer
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 9:46 p.m.
Awakened: Really? You waited 20 whole minutes for the police for a fight in a trailer park? Try waiting 4 hours to report your car stolen in Detroit, or 2 hours after you find your house ransacked in Romulus. You can't be serious! M anon: All townships are 36 sq miles. It's how many people are crammed into that space! Google it. Ypsi Twp is currently #8 out of 1,241 townships in population. The only larger townships are Clinton, Canton, Waterford, Shelby, West Bloomfield, Redford and Macomb. Canton is our neighbor and has 90 police officers. Where do you feel safer? If I read it correctly, the $144K per deputy is the cost of the deputy salary and benefits, supervisors, patrol cars, clerical help, so on and so on. Don't think you could beat the price on your own.
acme
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 8:44 p.m.
My apologies. My previous comment should have been directed to M_anon.
acme
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 8:41 p.m.
Ypsi Track - The worst thing we could possibly do is join with the Ypsi City police force. They have the most expensive police in the county and a large amount of infrastructure repairs that have not been made in decades. The city can't collect enough taxes to afford to keep their own department. They have a horrible fiscal policy and we should avoid all entanglements as they rush down the road to receivership.
acme
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 8:34 p.m.
The problem lies with the county. The charge per patrol is way out of line with the service provided. The county jacked up the price in retaliation after the Township succeeded in preventing the Giant jail. If the township paid for no dedicated patrols it would not impact the services that are currently provided by the sheriff department. They are still required to respond to crime after the fact and its not as if there are any cars patrolling my neighborhood.
M_anon
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 8:08 p.m.
I'm pretty sure the deputies have had a pay freeze or cut- I had an email from K.Roe about that. But the real issue is the $144K per officer-- it's so high because Ypsi rents its police coverage from the sheriff. It's cheaper to own. We need to merge with Ypsilanti City to create our own police department. Also, someone commented about the size of the township- not true, all townships are approximately the same sq miles, and we have approximately the same population as Monroe (I think that was the one) but they have even FEWER deputies and lower crime. Go figure.
Ypsi-track
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 7:32 p.m.
Time to take a look at all city and township pension plans. Something tells me there is a problem with bad investments coupled with bloated, out-sized pay-offs for the big dogs. More scrutiny and transparency would be a good thing.
casimer
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 6:58 p.m.
As someone working in law enforcement in another county who studied the budget on the website before voting it's obvious the township is under-policed. Neighborhoods aren't leisurely patrolled enough because they're running from call to call. The average in most cities is more than 1 cop per 1,000 people and they're already way below that and now will be about half of what it should be. This is one of the largest townships in MI with a police force more suited for rural America. A quick look at the court budget shows ticket revenue doesn't pay the bills for the court and they're running a defecit. So the argument that the township relies on ticket money has a false premise (but sure sounds good emotionally). I can understand being unable to afford the higher tax bill, even at a few dollars a month. I can't understand the hostile attitude toward law enforcement. Seems self serving. It never hits home until it hits YOUR home.
Awakened
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 6:46 p.m.
I live in a trailer park in Superior Township and twice have called on fights in my neighborhood. The Deputies showed 15 and 20 minutes after everyone left. The police do not protect you and unless you live in a nice neighborhood, they don't even pretend to care. If they asked me for a millage increase I'd have voted no too. Can't costs be cut elsewhere? They always cut, teachers and firefighters. Can't the administrators take a cut? How about parks? Thank God I do live in Superior Township. They have managed our money very well. I feel bad for Ypsi Township and the choices you are having to make because of years of mismanagement.
notsure
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 6:32 p.m.
Well said, Kent. I was going to rant about why I voted no, but you beat me to it. Well played, sir. There is one other reason Ms. Stumbo and the township wanted this passed... The local police bring in a lot of revenue for the township handing out minor traffic citations. It is a significant cash cow. The police millage had NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. Ypsi Township, of which I am a proud resident, will be just fine. Aside from harrasing the local populace for cash shakedowns via the bogus traffic citation, the extra deputies were probably needed to aid in evicting people from one of our wonderful foreclosed homes.
Dan
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 6:10 p.m.
Police and Politician both come from the same Latin root, the job of the police is to serve the needs of the politicians not the populous.
dan obryan
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 5:49 p.m.
get out of the tax payers pockets. i work i pay taxes.i dont think the tax payer is responsible for all these cuts. tax the welfare E.B.T bridge card.6% sales tax.100 of food for 6.00 dollars is still a deal. everyone at the grocery store is on it.finally the tax payer said no.the cops were not coming that fast anyways.the government has gotten fat of the tax payers
Ralph
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 5:30 p.m.
Ah! The price of freedom! Anybody for some football?
dotdash
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 5:17 p.m.
What a relief to read these comments. I had been following what Ypsi people were saying re the school millage, but now I understand. You guys resent EVERYONE! Party on, Garth!
Kent2525
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 5:14 p.m.
I voted no on the WCSD Millage. 1.They dont patrol the neighborhoods as it is(at least not mine). 2.They drive through my neighborhood as fast as they can. 3.All they do is arrive after the crime and rub chalk on the ground. 4.Traffic tickets? They spend all their time driving around handing out traffic tickets. 5.I let them know about drug dealers in the area, they do nothing. 6.I let them know about excessive speeding in 25mph neighborhoods and they do nothing. 7.I see and feel no support from the WCSD. 10 less sheriffs probably wont make a diff. 8.They spend most of their time securing businesss not the peoples houses. 9.Police have no legal duty to respond and prevent crime or protect the victim. There have BEEN OVER 10 various supreme and state court cases the individual has never won. Notably, the Supreme Court STATED about the responsibility of police for the security of your family and loved ones is "You, and only you, are responsible for your security and the security of your family and loved ones. That was the essence of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the early 1980's when they ruled that the police do not have a duty to protect you as an individual, but to protect society as a whole." 10.The Sheriff does nothing in my neighborhood as it is. The hell with paying them more from my pocket for them to do nothing about crime. The Washtenaw County Sheriffs that I have had contact with(give or take one or two)were rude, power hungry, had no regard for my rights (civil or constitutional) 11.The service is bad, their attitude is even worse. 12.They need to know that their jobs are not guaranteed, that they need to be more professional than us the public. 13.They need to not step on anyones constitutional rights at any time. 14.$144,000.00 per officer is a little steep, I would like a breakdown of the cost per officer. 15.Watch your neighborhood, your neighbors, and yourself. Only you can protect these things. 16.Maybe individual neighborhoods should band together and pay someone in their neighborhood to be a security patrol. This could be an unemployed person in the area that could do this. If you have 500 homes in a neighborhood, and they pay $2.00 a day each to the security person. They would get better protection from the local securtiy than the Sheriff that spends 3 minutes in the area all day long. 17.So $2.00 a day for good protection from local security, or $2.00 a day for the Millage that wont get you 5 minutes of the Sheriffs time.
slyde734
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:59 p.m.
Another great gift from Brenda Stumbo... When will the voters of Ypsi Township wake up and toss her and her clan out of office. She is a horrible leader...and a disgrace to the community.
blazinbill
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:50 p.m.
Threatening slow response times is not really a threat at all....have you tried calling the sheriff department before the vote? They take FOREVER to send a car....if the deputies have to do a report, they are considered out of service until the report is done. They will NOT respond until they are done doing whatever it is they feel like doing when they are out of service and heaven forbid if you catch them at shift change.....which seems to be whenever you call them. They will not send a car at shift change either.....and you want to know WHY the millage failed?!!!
BornNRaised
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:40 p.m.
So I understand the issue of wrongful spending in the school districts... kind of. And I also understand that there's a lot of 'overhead' there. But as for the police force, who does that hurt? You really think they're pulling $80K a year to be a cop or something? Get real. Just remember, when you call 911 and are wondering where your protection is.... remember how you voted. They're not asking for pay hikes, they were asking to keep officers on the streets. People said no. So keep you mouths shut when response times go up as well as crime rates. Ann Arbor city council decided to cut back the police force, and it's been nothing but problems since that in the city. Difference is, the city screwed us by doing that.... and the citizens of the township screwed themselves. Good luck. We've suffered from what happens after taking cops off the street. Welcome to our misery now.
Fred&Barney
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:39 p.m.
@Cash- "Maybe they should make wage concessions for deputies", are you serious? You think if each deputy gave a little token back it would somehow enable serious police protection in Ypsi-Twp. Sorry, these deputies don't make enough money in the first place. It's certainly not their responsibility to sacrifice their wages so that the residents of ypsi-twp who voted no for them should have police protection.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:19 p.m.
Just to be clear, I voted no because I pay enough taxes, I've taken the pay hit at my job. So the gov't needs to feel the pain the rest of are. One more thing, if the gov't wants more money they need to hide the slackers you see working on the road were you have 6 guys and only one is working. If you can afford to pay 6 guys for the work of 1, don't ask me for money.
Cash
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 4:09 p.m.
Well, maybe it's time to talk about wage concessions for county deputies. That would surely lower the cost to townships. Everyone else has to give a little...why not them? K-12 teachers, college presidents and professors, politicians, cops....no more sacred cows. Everyone should be willing to give a little to help those who lost everything in this economic crisis.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Nov 4, 2009 : 3:45 p.m.
i'll be dialing.45acp