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Police update: new public safety director, recruitment and stricter snow-plow enforcement
Summary
Officer Belvin told the commission Lloyd Frederick was confirmed as public safety director, described ongoing recruitment at regional career fairs and said the police partnered with DPW to tow vehicles and enforce a township parking ordinance during recent heavy snowstorms.
Officer Belvin updated the Human Relations Commission on public safety staffing, recruitment and storm response.
"Lloyd Frederick is now our public safety director as of today," Officer Belvin said, and commissioners praised his promotion. Belvin described recruitment plans at university career fairs and the department’s ongoing work with the Community Relations Bureau to attract new officers.
Belvin also outlined the department’s response to recent heavy snow: the town restored a snow-patrol detail, coordinated closely with the Department of Public Works and increased towing and ticketing where parked cars blocked plows. "This last snowstorm we were pretty much issuing and towing because that last snowstorm was pretty bad," he said, noting enforcement included issuing summonses and towing vehicles that impeded plowing.
A resident complained that officers ticketed a car while its owner was starting the vehicle on a residential street and urged that first-time incidents receive warnings. The officer explained that enforcement can vary by officer, that warnings may be issued in some cases and that vehicles on residential streets must be registered, inspected and insured to avoid citation or towing. He said private lots are the responsibility of property owners and that police do not tow from private property.
No formal vote or directive resulted from the discussion. Commissioners noted the value of continued communication about enforcement practices and suggested clarifying public guidance on the township website about parking rules during storms.
