He also served 2 tours in the Vietnam War 1972-1974 and with the SAC Elite Guard out of Nebraska 1974-1976. Even when the years dragged on and the task force was disbanded, Kasher said he knew who to reach out to for help. In addition to the Chief of Police, the Department includes two lieutenants, six sergeants, six corporals, twenty-three police officers, three full-time clerks and several part-time/seasonal cadets. "Hero" is a word he never attributed to himself, but those who knew him did. She also saved investigators countless hours by eliminating potential suspects because they didnt resemble the driver she had seen. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? Grand Blanc Township police said in a Tuesday, April . I do know that Willis is a predator, Kasher said. Willis was convicted of Heeringas kidnapping and murder in 2018 and is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole. He even said he would lead police to her burial site, only to take them on a wild goose chase. North Muskegon, MI 49445 A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. 980 Terrace Street. Willis is charged with the homicide of Rebekah Bletsch in 2014, the kidnapping of a teenage girl in April of 2016, and he is a person of interest in the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I think he was just patrolling up and down streets.. Theres a lot of openness to this case that I dont think is ever going to go away, he said. 1903 Marquette Avenue. Welcome to the North Muskegon Police Department. The graduates successfully completed over 20 weeks of intensive, standardized training in all aspects of law enforcement and . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). I worked with Bill at MPD years ago. North Muskegon Police Department 1114 Ruddiman Drive North Muskegon, MI 49445 (231) 744 - 4313 Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Muskegon Police Department at 231-724-6750, or Silent Observer at 231-722-7463. We are sorry for your loss and even though it doesn't lessen the pain, William is now receiving his just reward. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com), Lt. Michael Kasher with the Norton Shores Police Department talks with the media on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in Muskegon, Michigan after Jeffrey Willis was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Jessica Hearing in April of 2013. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm Hundreds march in honor of George Floyd in downtown Muskegon. Johnsons name has been evoked locally when activists have decried other Black Americans killed by police, such as George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died when a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, and Breonna Taylor, a Grand Rapids native who was killed in her Lousville, Kentucky, home. That employee was instrumental in police finding surveillance video that helped them identify the van and connect it to Willis, Kasher said. Please note that this page was created. City of North Muskegon Police Department Officer Bios. The budget, which goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1, includes a $28.8 million general fund, of which $10.76 million is allocated to the police department. Theres no way he knewthat Rebekah was going to go for a run that day. This is a privately owned website and is not owned and operated by any state government organization. Lt. Michael Kasher with the Norton Shores Police Department talks with a member of the Michigan State Police as they execute a search warrant on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 3038 Bailey St. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. I feel deep guilt because maybe if I would have pushed it and did a full court press on it, Rebekah wouldnt have been dead, she wouldnt have been shot, Kasher said. He also believes Willis was watching Heeringa at the store. Officer David Morrell Please limit your input to 500 characters. The budget planning process was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Peterson. We continue to make progress to meet the directives of the statute and add information to the database that is of great public interest, said Enrique Zuniga, Executive Director of POST. WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin. Related: Jeffrey Willis trial: Tearful witness believes she saw Heeringa kidnapping. The Muskegon County Sheriffs office recently announced that it will purchase body-mounted and dashboard cameras, and officers in Muskegon Heights, Norton Shores, and Muskegon Township wear body cameras. Earlier in the evening, Mayor Stephen Gawron defended Muskegons police department, saying that a community policing program was introduced in the 1990s in order to address a burgeoning violent crime rate., We do community policing so we dont kill people, he said, adding that community relations have improved since that style of policing was introduced. Strong law enforcement has made a difference in Muskegon County. But that abduction of a teenage female walking alone on a deserted road at 6 a.m. helps fuel Kashers belief that Willis was a predator who would drive around looking for victims. 2715 Baker Street Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 Emergency: 911 Non Emergency: 231-733-8900 The mission of the Muskegon Heights Police Department is to maintain order, preserve public safety, and foster a better quality of life. In Norton Shores, Mich. Find useful services for victim assistance. Ext. He also worked as a paramedic for Bud's Ambulance and was a supervisor for the Prisoner Reentry Program at Goodwill Industries. If the fire department receives notice of any fire alarm from an alarm system that does not have a valid registration, then the owner shall be liable to the city for a fee as provided for in Section 42-41 of the Code of the City of Muskegon Heights for each Muskegon Heights Fire Department response to false fire alarms. We love you both. My sincere condolences to the Wiebenga family. The prosecutor's office is proud to stand with the brave men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis in order to make our county secure. Above left, Lt. Michael Kasher with the Norton Shores Police Department exits the courtroom Wednesday in Muskegon after Jeffrey Willis was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Jessica Heeringa in April 2013. The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is charged with creating a mandatory certification process for police officers, as well as processes for decertification, suspension of certification, and retraining in the event of certain misconduct. Another caller, Kwame James, suggested that system-level change may take a long time. Emergency: 911 Though her killer was convicted, Heeringas body has never been found. Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 Provide services in a sensitive, yet effective, manner. The majority of the remaining funds, about $9.1 million, will go to police officers salaries and benefits. A brother in arms that will be missed by all who knew him. He served 15 months in jail and five years of probation. Thomas Korabik Chief of Police. Theirs was a love story for the ages. People criticized us and said, Is this too big for you? he said. You are the failure. Bill worked as a Road Patrol Deputy at the Omaha Police Department and the Box Butte Sheriff Department. Accident reports can be purchased online HERE. That shooting was found at the time to be justified, following an investigation by the Michigan State Police. Livescan Fingerprinting: $75. I think he saw an opportunity, Kasher said. Bill was a great guy! Marquette Campus. In Norton Shores, Mich. Ext. Im so sorry to hear of his passing. A law enforcement officer whose certification is suspended can request a hearing before a commissioner within 15 days. He was born October 2, 1953 in Grand Haven, MI to William R. and Evelyn (Broersma) Wiebenga, Sr. U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol. Muskegon Police Officers provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, promoting good community relations, and patrolling assigned area to prevent crime; enforce laws, ordinances and traffic regulations, control crowds, and arrest violators; and may perform a specialized police activity Close alerts. The Muskegon County COPS Board consists of law enforcement leaders from each police department, and including Prosecutor Hilson on the COPS Board helps to bring a coordinated approach to law enforcement. He was preceded in death by his parents. Commissioners engaged in robust discussions of the budget at earlier work sessions prior to their final vote on June 23, with some community members calling for significant transformation to how the city conducts and pays for policing. So thats a little openness there.. (231) 724-6351. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. From uniformed patrol officers to narcotics investigators to bureau detectives, Muskegon County is protected twenty-four hours a day by hard-working, street savvy law enforcement officers. It was, Kasher said, the big break for the Heeringa and Bletsch cases. Use this button to show and access all levels. Local income taxes typically comprise some $9.6 million, representing about a third of the citys annual $27 million in revenue, according to Peterson. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Muskegon Police Department at 231-724-6750 or Silent Observer at 231-722-7463. We didnt have the evidence. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. 2715 Baker Street Police Personnel Address 1990 E. Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442 Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM (Closed 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM for Lunch Hour) Contact Phone: (231) 777-1666 (For Non-Emergencies Only) FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 Chief of Police Tim A. Thielbar Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net Ext. Julie, we are so sorry for your loss. North Muskegon Police Department 1114 Ruddiman Drive North Muskegon, MI 49445. As the Chief of Police, I hope you find the information on this site useful. POST will suspend the certification of an officer who is arrested, charged or indicted of a felony and will revoke the certification of an officer who is convicted of a felony. Muskegon Heights City Hall I think Bluhm had something to do with it and I couldnt get him, Kasher said. That was, as Kasher puts it, pre-Willis -- before Jeffrey Willis became the prime suspect through his involvement in two other cases involving kidnapping and murder. Well yeah, thats why I brought in other peopleI was more than happy to have their assistance.. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission Suspends Fifteen Law Enforcement Officers. RELATED: Change is already here: Juneteenth protest in Muskegon draws calls for action. The POST Commission was established as part of a 2020 criminal justice reform law to focus on efforts to improve public safety and increase trust between members of law enforcement and the public. William R. Wiebenga, Jr., age 69, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023. United States Marshals Service. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com), Norton Shores Police Lt. Michael Kasher testifies on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Muskegon, Michigan. Though Bluhm knew Bletsch and Willis likely was watching her, he would not have known she would be out jogging along a rural road on the day he killed her, Kasher said. By checking "I agree", The Applicant or Authorized Agent affirms that all the information contained herein is true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge. The mission of the Muskegon Heights Police Department is to maintain order, preserve public safety, and foster a better quality of life. The budget, which goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1, includes a $28.8 million general fund, of which $10.76 million is allocated to the police department. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net Anya van Wagtendonk | avanwagtendonk@mlive.com. Muskegon County has a unified system for public announcements. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Accepted file types: pdf, jpg, jpeg, png, Max. Connect Muskegon Several commissioners said they would continue to engage in conversations around city funding, with Michael Ramsey and Ken Johnson both saying they hoped the body would find ways of moving money towards social and community programs. Boston - The Massachusetts POST Commission has released a list of fifteen suspended law enforcement officers. Bluhm pleaded no contest to being an accessory after Heeringas murder and for lying to police. Jail records, court & arrest records, mugshots and even judicial reports. You did your job and your watch has come to and. Thats an increase of about $570,000, which City Manager Frank Peterson said is primarily attributable to retiree pensions and healthcare benefits. This is a chance for the commission to move in the right direction, where we could actually make some change and listen to the voices of the community, he said. Officer Katie Brandt The Muskegon Police Department provides law enforcement and policing functions for a 26 square mile Muskegon Police Department | Muskegon MI Dear Lin-our wonderful Up North neighbor: Julie and family; My heart is so sad ..you can continue to tell all those fun stories..He was the funniest and kindness patient ever Youre in my heart and in my prayers Love you; Kimberly Lee. Directions. Officer Brendan Zandi, Share on Facebook Quick Links. No specific dates have yet been set for public meetings on the topic, although some commissioners have begun holding Zoom calls with constituents. Employment Opportunities View current job listings with Muskegon County. He previously told MLive that the city expects an ongoing downturn in its revenue because, as city residents lost their jobs during the pandemic, they would stop paying local income taxes. U.S. Department of Justice. Abandoned Vehicle TR-52/Bill of Sale: $60. Contact us for city regulation questions, various permits, and other police needs. The detective sergeant and later lieutenant -- endured biting criticism during the years that her disappearance went unsolved. Muskegons police department came under scrutiny when one of its officers, Charles Anderson, was found last year to have KKK memorabilia in his home. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. And there was the lost 16-year-old to whom police say Willis offered use of his phone and then pulled a gun on her in 2016. This results in 2.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 10% greater than the Michigan average and 30.1% less than the National average. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. This application may be denied for false statements and/or non payment of all fees owed to the City of Muskegon Heights. The 542-bed facility managed by the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office is located at: Muskegon County Jail.
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