Public Safety

The Kalamazoo Public Safety has the largest public safety staff in the country. Kalamazoo is also one of the largest cities utilizing the public safety model in the country as well. Departments of Public Safety have primary and direct responsibility for all emergencies and support all full-time and sworn personnel, who are cross-trained as police officers, firefighters and/or Emergency Medical Technicians.

According to national crime terminology, index crimes are defined as violent/physical crimes such as homicide, negligent manslaughter, rape/attempted rape, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, burglary, larceny and auto theft. 

Non-index crimes are defined as nonviolent crimes such as non-aggressive assault, forgery/ counterfeiting, fraud, embezzlement, stolen property, vandalism, weapons, prostitution, sex offenses, narcotic laws, gambling, family/children offenses, DUI alcohol/ narcotics, liquor law violations and disorderly conduct.

Public Safety uses many strategies to target crime trends to effectively fight crime. Through continued collaborations between all divisions in Public Safety, effective use of technology to identify crime trends along with partnerships with neighborhoods, community resources and regional public safety agencies, officers focus resources in high crime areas and have implemented initiatives such as Cops on Dots. As a result of negotiations between Public Safety unions and administration, KDPS implemented Public Safety Power Shift, which places more officers on the streets during peak crime hours. 

Since the inception of the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), the number of methamphetamine (meth) laboratory production facilities has decreased since 2000. The decline in meth seizures is due to KVET’s aggressive efforts to identify meth labs and apprehend manufacturers in Kalamazoo County. KVET works diligently to track and seize meth labs, distributors and users throughout Kalamazoo County. Meth labs produce five to six pounds of hazardous waste per pound of finished meth, which is quite dangerous because the chemicals used to produce meth are flammable and can create toxic fumes. 

KPS is very concerned about gun violence in our community and is completely committed to reducing the gun violence. Public Safety is striving to remove firearms on the streets as well as the potential of guns getting into the hands of those who may use them to carry out criminal acts.