POLICE NEWS!!!

As you may have noticed, our patrol cars look a bit different. This is because we recently contracted with the Village of Centreville to share police resources. It has taken a little time to implement, but both councils agreed in August to the merger that took effect September 1 of this year (2024). With the additional staffing, there is zero additional cost to either village, yet this allows us to staff patrol officers far more than independently! While not quite 24/7 yet, we are very near. In fact, we have been able to hire two new officers, Officer Matt Stark wo is our new Constantine School Resource Officer, and Officer Dave Loza who will be starting field training in the coming days. Additionally, Officer Cole Lusby will join us after graduation from police academy December 5 and will begin his field training the following week. His position is partially funded by state and federal grants that were applied for and awarded in 2023 through 2027.

I would also like to take this time to remind everyone, office hours are not “fixed” in either village, therefore office phones are not always staffed. Our officers are most readily contacted on the police radio, so if you need to speak with a police officer, you must call Central Dispatch. If an emergency, dial 911. The non-emergency number for Central Dispatch is 269-435-4355, however please understand you may not receive a reply for more than a week, depending on that officer’s schedule. So, if you need assistance right away, you must call Central Dispatch to speak with an on-duty officer.

Chief Dan Thayer

Centreville-Constantine Police Department

Centreville-Constantine Police Log:

In the early morning hours of November 4th, a man forced entry to the Constantine Public Schools Maintenance building. This man stole a large amount of tools and school owned property under the cover of darkness. Evidence was collected and an investigation began. The same suspect returned to the High School property on Thanksgiving morning and committed another burglary.

On the morning of December 1st, Officers learned the suspect was hiding from police and was in the Village of Constantine. Officers executed a search warrant upon the apartment he was sequestered in and located the male suspect among multiple other occupants. Critical evidence was also located in the apartment at that time.

In conclusion, the 44-year-old Constantine man was lodged at the St. Joseph County Jail on 3 Felony counts of Burglary and one Felony count of Possession of Burglary Tools. This man has no bond at this time and is facing arraignment on these charges.

Later in the afternoon on December 1, officers were requested to assist Three Rivers Police with a case that lead them to the Village of Constantine. Also assisting were Michigan State Police, St. Joseph County Sheriff Department, White Pigeon Police Department. The case is still under investigation.

Constantine Police Department Engages New Body-Worn

Partnership with Utility, Inc. Furthers Transparency and Safety through Technology Ecosystem

CONSTANTINE, MI (August 16, 2024) – Following a successful training and deployment process, the Constantine Police Department announced that its officers are now equipped with Utility, Inc.’s patented EOS by Utility™ body-worn camera technology. The technology enables policy-based, high-speed data collection to deliver instant, clear and secure intelligence to support an increase in transparency and accountability between the Constantine Police Department and the community.

A statement from Constantine Police Chief Dan Thayer, “We have already experienced multiple automatic activations our previous cameras were not capable of, allowing us to focus on the task(s) at hand and not worry about making sure the camera is on. They are very user-friendly!”

The EOS cameras are embedded in the officers’ uniforms to ensure they remain securely attached. These cameras utilize artificial intelligence to create situational awareness and offer features like a two-minute buffer, capturing two minutes of video prior to activation. The cameras also have automatic, policy-based recording functionalities alleviating the need for officers to manually activate them. These functions will turn the camera on any time the officer:

• Draws their handgun from its holster;

• Begins to run;

• Jostles or shakes, such as during a fight;

• Activates lights and/or sirens in the car;

• Unlocks the shotgun/rifle rack; or

• Lies flat for 10 seconds – this feature, known as Officer Down, notifies all cars in the district that an officer needs immediate assistance.

“We’re proud to serve as a strategic partner to the Constantine Police Department as it furthers its commitment to the community,” said Michael Nark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Utility. “Our goal is to ‘never ask officers to do something that technology can do for them,’ and the implementation of Eos technology provides the Constantine Police Department officers a smart, automated solution so they can maintain focus on those they serve.”

###

About Utility

Utility, the innovative technology-enabled service provider recognized for creating groundbreaking digital systems for frontline professions, provides a universe of intuitive products for effectively capturing, managing and releasing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors and devices as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, please visit utility.com.