Chief Advocates Partnership Between Police, Community
Explains Changes Made in Police Dept. Following Recent Citizen Concerns
By Leslie Rott

After a heated July 6 City Council meeting at which several citizens charged the police department with harassment, the Police Committee met Wednesday, July 20, to review the changes made by Police Chief William Lenaghan and also to receive input from the community.

Chief Lenaghan told the committee and audience that partners have been realigned, with strong officers placed with weaker officers to create greater balance within the police department.

He also said that he reiterated the idea of “community policing” to members of the department and several members of the audience asked for a definition, as well.

“Community policing is a partnership between the community and the police department,” Chief Lenaghan said. He added that the goal of “community policing” is to solve problems in ways other than just enforcement. “Meetings like this” are a prime example of community policing, he added.

Two officers that left the department were replaced and several officers were sent for additional training.

“I just think everything is going well,” Committee Member Armand “Smi” Horn said.

“It was really quite calm,” Mayor Margaret Doud added, referring to the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac last weekend.

The Mayor asked the chief to look into concerns from several parents about an itching powder being sold on the Island and also to the recent rampant use of silly string at night.

Despite the positive comments from members of the Committee, several members of the audience voiced their criticisms of the department.

Joan Slater said that in the last week, she has not seen any traffic officers around the docks between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. She said that this is a busy time downtown and she was concerned at the lack of police presence. Chief Lenaghan said that owing to the yacht race and scheduling changes, the department was not able to place an officer there at that time.

Emergency Medical Technician Pamela Lach voiced her concern over the corner of Market Street and Cadotte Avenue, which she described as a traffic nightmare. Committee Member Michael Hart said that people do not realize that the intersection is shaped like a T, with the potential for having traffic come from three directions. Mayor Doud suggested putting a stop sign back on that corner.

“I don’t think that people think these streets are really streets,” Mary Dufina said.

Mrs. Dufina also voiced concern over the look and behavior of the departments traffic officers. Among other things, she questioned why traffic uniforms look more like police uniforms than those worn by the police. Mayor Doud said that at one time, intern traffic officers were dressed in khaki pants and polo shirts and no one knew that they were part of the police department. Mrs. Dufina then suggested that the traffic officers should have a better relationship with the business owners.

Chief Lenaghan agreed, saying he is emphasizing to all of his officers that they should “take more of a community oriented approach to people.”

Other members of the community voiced their support for the police chief and his department.

“The Chief’s walking a tightrope here,” said Bill Chambers. “The ladder of law enforcement is not easy.”

Another suggestion was that new officers should be presented their badges at the first City Council meeting after they start working for the department. The idea, presented by Joan Slater, was met with enthusiasm by both the committee members and the chief.

Chief Lenaghan said it was a welcome idea and it was decided that the two newest officers of the Mackinac Island Police Department would be presented their badges and introduced to the community at the City Council meeting Wednesday, August 3.

Patti Ann Moskwa thanked the committee and the chief for moving the garbage cans on the corner of Main and Astor streets, which had been previously causing traffic flow problems.