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Kentwood police, fire chiefs report lower calls, arrests; commission accepts reports
Summary
Kentwood City chiefs presented January 2025 activity reports showing a modest decline in total calls for service, details on fires and EMS, and crime and traffic statistics; the City Commission voted to receive and file the reports.
Mayor Kempler and the Kentwood City Commission received January 2025 police and fire reports during the Feb. 18 meeting and voted to file them.
The fire department reported six fires in January and 465 total calls for service, down slightly from 2024. Fire Chief Lohman said the month’s incidents included a dryer-related building fire on Roseworth Court, several vehicle fires and one vehicle fire under investigation that involved a fatality. He said mutual- and auto-aid runs continued with neighboring jurisdictions and that EMS calls remained highest for breathing problems and traffic crashes. Lohman also told commissioners the department administered Narcan two dozen times year-to-date, down slightly from 2024.
The police department reported about 1,400 calls for service in January, a small decline from its five-year average. Chief Lewin told the commission violent-crime calls included 15 aggravated assaults (mostly domestic related) and one CSC complaint where suspect and victim knew each other. Property crimes were lower: four burglaries (three completed, one attempt) and six motor-vehicle-theft reports (three attempted). Lewin said retail fraud made up about 29% of larceny reports and vehicle-related larceny about 18%.
Lewin highlighted drug and traffic enforcement: 13 drug complaints (primarily heroin and meth), 12 DUI arrests, 779 traffic stops and 446 citations. He described a traffic stop that led to recovery of 22 grams of meth, 48 grams of heroin and a gun stolen from Memphis, credited to a Kentwood officer and a canine unit.
Commissioners asked about staffing and operations: Lohman compared Kentwood’s firefighter staffing (about one per 1,000 residents) to regional neighbors and described automatic-aid dispatch agreements that now route some calls with neighboring Gaines Township. Lewin said the department has about 10 FAA-licensed drone pilots and is expanding a traffic unit with a new officer. Both chiefs answered questions about workload, mutual aid and equipment. The commission voted unanimously to receive and file the police and fire reports.
