Hi, I'm Carol Danly on Webster. I'm working behind the scenes in support of Ty Schmidt, Mary Van Valin and our Oak Park Neighborhood association. Our website needed some new posts. No one came forward with any suggestions or articles. So, I thought, “What would be of general interest to all 370+ households?”
I was ma’am. She was Officer Hecko. To be honest, the formalities felt like a barrier to me. The formalities are, Traverse City Police Officer Hecko explained, a sign of respect. I would be ma’am until she was told by me to do otherwise. Ditto as regards Officer Hecko.
We are on a first name basis now.
Mikki (pronounced Mickey) Hecko is a relative newcomer to
the TCPD, taking the oath of office June 22, 2022. Originally from Muskegan,
she graduated from Lake Superior State University with two criminal justice
degrees and police academy certification. She has seven years experience, the
last five in Ludington where she was a patrol officer, then, detective/evidence
technician/drug recognition expert.
Full disclosure: I worked as a temp for a short time
transcribing City and County police reports. It seemed to me most neighborhood
crime occurred in the alleys. I was curious, “Is this true?”
While Mikki has not been around long enough to speak on
specific statistics, in general, more crime occurs in unlit and unpopulated
area. Ways to deter crime include locking doors and windows, using motion
lights and security cameras, and establishing a relationship with neighbors.
She assures me, officers do patrol our neighborhood. If something doesn’t seem
right to residents, however, direct-patrols (to monitor a specific location in
the neighborhood) can be requested. The requestor must be able to explain why
the patrol is needed.
I’ve also been aware of the work of the Before, During and
After Incarceration group, bringing attention to the issue of police interactions
with individuals having mental health issues. I wondered how my Oak Park
neighbors with concerns about family members could be proactive in this regard.
Mikki confirms poor mental health is the cause of a large portion of calls for
service.
Turns out TCPD, like many police departments, has a
computerized premise (as in, your house) alert program. A premise alert/note is
a way for families to give TCPD advanced knowledge about how to interact with
an individual. It allows for a rapid and informed response during a crisis.
Mikki mentioned this can be useful in cases of autism, traumatic head injury,
or mental health challenges. I’ve read it is designed for anyone who has a
special need, also including: Alzheimer’s, intellectual disability, or complex
or rare medical conditions. Mikki was clear, however, that according to
Michigan Law, criminal behavior must be dealt with accordingly by responding
officers.
After arrest or if an individual has not engaged in criminal
behavior, support is available. Happily, TCPD recently hired Jennifer Campbell,
a social worker. She helps connect community members with resources. She can be
reached by calling the Law Enforcement Center at 231-995-5150. If a person is a
danger to themselves or others, it is the job of TCPD to protect life by making
sure the individual is seen by a medical professional. In addition, on January
12th, a community-based Quick Response Team began responding to
overdose cases with treatment instead of jail.
Mikki has one final message she’d like to convey to
residents of Oak Park Neighborhood. “If you see something, say something!” The
TCPD is a 24 hour police department which means an officer can be reached 24
hours a day. Sometimes urgent calls for service or minimum staffing makes patrolling
and proactive policing difficult. If TCPD is made aware, they can respond
accordingly.
To reach the Traverse City Police Department, use these
numbers:
Emergencies: 9-1-1
Non-emergency: 231-922-4550 (Central Dispatch and Premise
Alerts/Notes)