Sheriff's office increases presence at Ypsilanti, Willow Run high schools
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has increased its presence at Ypsilanti and Willow Run high schools ahead of Friday, the final day of school before the two districts officially consolidate this summer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Fox said the department has had two to four officers at each school since Wednesday to prevent any issues.
"At the end of the school year, the kids are a little restless," Fox said. "Some things have happened in the past on the last days of school because the kids don't have to worry about being suspended."
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department has had two mounted deputies patrolling Ypsilanti High School on Thursday.
Paula Gardner | AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti High School has one school officer, but Willow Run does not normally have a police officer present in the school.
The sheriff's department also has used the mounted police division, Fox said, because the horses are useful in dispersing crowds. Two mounted officers were at Ypsilanti High School Thursday.
"That's just added presence," Fox said. "We like to use the mounted division whenever we can. It was just an opportunity to get the horses in the public. Horses are a good tool to disperse the public."
Fox said the district isn't expecting any serious issues on its final day, but the department wanted to be proactive.
Fox said the decision to have more deputies present wasn't spurred by the fact Friday is the last school day the districts will have separately before consolidating. The districts will officially consolidate July 1 to become the Ypsilanti Community Schools.
"I don't think, regarding the students, the school situation changes anything for them," Fox said. "We have not heard of any issues and don't really expect anything. It's a proactive measure."
Fox said the deputies will arrive at the school around mid-morning and won't leave until everyone is off of the school grounds. The mounted patrol would then go through the neighborhoods to make sure the students aren't causing any issues.
"Once we disperse the kids off the property, we start to patrol the neighborhoods to make sure the kids aren't congregating and causing trouble," Fox said.
Skyline High School in Ann Arbor recently hired additional security to deter students from engaging in senior pranks during the final week of school.
Principal Sulura Jackson hired four security guards to monitor school entrances and stairwells, district spokeswoman Liz Margolis told AnnArbor.com
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Lake Trout
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 2:21 p.m.
Information about mounted patrol from the County Web site, Sheriff services: Mounted Unit Police service horses, specially trained to serve in a variety of operational settings, provide a unique form of alternative patrol and response capability, often unmatched in its effectiveness. They engage in search and rescue operations, large event and crowd control management, general patrol, special operations, dignitary protection and are often present at community events, festivals and parades. Mounted Unit Deputies operate on horses they own which are specially trained in equine policing techniques and procedures. All horses have met the health and training requirements outlined by the Sheriff's Office. Corporal Paul Mobbs and Corporal Cindy Flint operate as senior unit members joined and supported by Community Engagement Sergeant Beth Gieske.
Lake Trout
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
Please note: "Mounted Unit Deputies operate on horses they own" not purchased or cared for by Sheriff funds...
Heather
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
I think sending mounted police is a creative and sensitive approach to keeping the kids calm the last day of school. I just hope I get to see them if they go through my neighborhood. Very cool!
Hugh Giariola
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
Mounted patrols are a waste of money.
Jim H
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.
Mounted officers are worth their weight in good PR, as well being able to maneuver quickly through crowds, traffic, and terrain where vehicles can't go.
beardown
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 4:42 a.m.
But why are they needed on a last day of classes?
Homeland Conspiracy
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
Cops on horses reminds me of Slave Masters & we are the slaves
Paul
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:31 a.m.
Good one, thanks for posting it, how true in a way.
Linda Peck
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10 p.m.
I would like to add that when I was a kid cops on horseback often were seen on the streets. We always enjoyed seeing that. It is a positive thing, not a negative thing in my judgment. People become calmer around horses, that is unless they are afraid of horses particularly. I would think the likelihood of a disturbance happening would be less with mounted officers around. Isn't that a good thing?
Chester Drawers
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:58 a.m.
Paula, There used to be a show on a cable network (maybe it still exists) called 'The Principal's Office.' It once featured a school in rural Texas to which a student rode to school on horseback and tethered the animal to a light post in the car parking lot!
Paula Gardner
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:09 p.m.
I agree, Linda. I did a double-take when I drove by today. I can honestly say I've never seen a horse at the high school before today! But it made the officers' presence very obvious in a non-threatening way. The deputies also seemed very approachable.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
Interesting that this presence isn't due to a concern of something happening because of the merger. The sheriff's office did increase its presence in both districts on May 3 when teachers received their letters notifying them of whether or not they'd be offered a position in the new Ypsilanti Community Schools district.
jns131
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
Hate to say it is gang related. This I was told and this I do know that we are combing some very interesting neighborhoods with shall I say, issues. So, this is no surprise that police are out in force.
beardown
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 9:38 p.m.
Kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy about the last days of the two schools. Instead of fond memories, the last thing the students will see are mounted cops.
Paul
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:29 a.m.
Yep, they are getting trained well. You will conform or else. To think, Pink Floyd and the Wall is almost 40 years ago, hard to believe it went from bad to worst.
AA Neighbor
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
They can run the young scholars down much faster on horses, but I'm not sure the horses deserve to be in such out of control places.
AA Neighbor
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
Horses have been on the planet longer than people. Why put the horses through the hassle? Come to think of it, horses have probably been around longer than the planet itself. Don't laugh! A credible recent survey found that only 8% of the American people could locate the USA on a blank map; the result for horses was 19.5%. Makes ya think. Liaskos
WalkingJoe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
Glad I read the article, I thought maybe the picture on the opening page was just a stock photo of mounted officers. I'll say one thing, that probably got the kids attention.
treetowncartel
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.
Kind of sad what has happened over the years. Beefed up patrols were not necessary back in the day.
Paul
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
Everything wasn't made a big deal by the police. We could smoke outside our high school all the time class was on break. Today that is a major crime ,17 year olds with tobacco. Everything is a big deal to them, common sense went out the window it seems.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:55 p.m.
Yeah they were, they just didn't publicize them.
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:31 p.m.
Cops on horses are a huge waste of money. Most departments have eliminated them because the ROI just isn't there. Put the cops on bicycles. Cops on horses almost never make arrests. Bike cops frequently do.
jns131
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:41 p.m.
Actually WCSD has increased bike patrols in residential neighborhoods. Gives them better advantage of being not so ordinary. They patrol in our area and according to our last watch meeting we will need lawn chairs so we can watch them go by. So, no, bike patrols are up and horse patrols are down unless you are in Texas.
gofigure
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.
Katrese, please correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't it the Owner/Police Officers that pay for the caring and boarding of their horses?
Chester Drawers
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:53 a.m.
Nicholas Urfe, Could you please cite your sources re: arrest data for horse mounted officers vs. bike mounted ones?
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
The lack of arrests by mounted cops speak for themselves. Plus all the costs of caring for the horses, driving the horses around, etc. That is why most police departments have eliminated them. They cannot be justified. There are many places horses can't go, but which are accessible by a bike cop. And at any time the bike cop can drop his bike and continue on foot. A mounted cop cannot dismount and leave his horse. Etc.
Paul
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
Ever been chased by a cop on a horse ? Those horses can kick also, you don't wanna mess with them. Cop on a bike would likely be out of breath by the time it caught up to whatever it was chasing. Now are cops on horses really needed in the first place, I doubt it, just more $ being wasted.
Boo Radley
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 9:27 p.m.
It is true that most departments have eliminated mounted patrols, but most have also eliminated bike patrol also. Horse mounted officers have many advantages over officers on bicycles: - The officer has a vantage/viewpoint from 10 feet up in the air. They see much more and are also seen by others more readily, thus being more of a deterrent. - Mounted officers are the most effective tool in law enforcement for crowds, unruly groups and for breaking up fights. - Horses can go many more places than bicycles and there is no one who can outrun a horse. - While the horses are effective in use of force and crowd control, they are also crowd pleasers and allow officers to positively interact with the public. And ... it is not true that cops on horses almost never make arrests.
Linda Peck
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
Everyone likes the horses.