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Dearborn Heights authorizes new traffic enforcement partnership, upgrades police radios and honors community officers
Summary
Council approved an agreement with the Wayne County Sheriff to allow deputies to issue citations in city limits (with revenue sharing), authorized programming of police radios to meet state encryption standards, and recognized two officers for community policing and Explorer program support.
The Dearborn Heights City Council on June 23 approved a package of public-safety items that included an intergovernmental agreement with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, funding for police radio upgrades and public recognition for local officers.
The intergovernmental agreement authorizes Wayne County Sheriff's deputies to issue citations for city ordinance and traffic violations on county primary and local roads within the city. Council members said the arrangement is intended to supplement local enforcement and increase visible patrols; the council noted the city will retain 50% of revenue collected under the agreement. "This allows us to supplement our staffing...to address the issues that we're having on a more regular basis," Chief Michael Gazowski told the council.
Separately, the council approved approximately $149,466 to program 48 police radios to comply with a state encryption upgrade, using internal police department accounts to cover the cost. Chief Gazowski said the programming is required by the state police encryption change and that the department will address the remaining radios in the next fiscal budget.
Earlier in the meeting the council read proclamations honoring Sergeant Muhammad Bezi and Officer Jose for their community policing work and their role in reactivating the Explorer and reserve programs; the mayor and council recognized that the officers helped secure nearly $50,000 for the Explorer program.
Council members praised the combined approach: investment in equipment, broader agency cooperation, and neighborhood-focused policing. The measures passed by voice and roll-call votes. Council asked the chief to coordinate scheduling and to return with implementation details for radio upgrades and any operational changes tied to the sheriff's office partnership.
