16th Annual Citizens' Academy session to begin September 11, 2014

The Meridian Township Police Department has scheduled the 16th Annual Citizens’ Academy for residents, community members, and business people of Meridian and Williamstown Townships. Participants will meet every Thursday evening (6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.) September 11 through November 6, 2014. The Academy is hosted at the Meridian Township Public Safety Building, 5151 Marsh Road, and will consist of lectures and active participation by attendees.  Meridian Township Police Officers serve as the instructors for the Academy. Participants will gain knowledge about the criminal justice system and the role of the Meridian Township Police Department in the community. The program is free.

Past participants have given overwhelming support for the Academy and found it valuable in gaining a
better understanding of the importance of police officers in the community. If you have questions or wish
to enroll in the Academy, please contact Chief David Hall at 853-4800

Can you help us identify this person?

UPDATE: We have identified this individual thanks to all your tips and information.  Great job!

The man pictured above and below has been accused of stealing approximately $2800 worth of electronics from stores in Lansing, and Meridian Township.  The thefts began in early July and have continued until last week. If you know who this is please contact Sgt. Andrew McCready at (517)853-4800, by email at mccready@meridian.mi.us , or submit an anonymous tip by using the link to the right of this page.

Do you know this man?

UPDATE: This man has been identified, and now the criminal investigation can move forward.  Thanks for all the tips!

Do you know this man?  He has been accused of stealing merchandise from a local business on July 23, 2014 at approximately 11:30 AM.  There was a second person possibly working with this subject to distract/delay the employees.  Both subjects left the area in a silver Chrysler passenger car.

If you know who this is please contact Sgt. Andrew McCready at (517) 853-4800, by email at mccready@meridian.mi.us , or submit an anonymous tip using the link at the right of this page.

August 5th is National Night Out

The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, began in 1984 as an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. National Night Out now involves over 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

The traditional “lights on” campaign and symbolic front porch vigils turned into a celebration across America with various events and activities including, but not limited to, block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars, in effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations.

June's monthly report

June's monthly report is available for viewing.  To see the report click the following link: monthly report.

Help us identify a retail fraud suspect

Please help us identify this woman.  She is accused of stealing items from a business in Okemos on June 29, 2014.  She fled the scene in a dark colored SUV.

If you know who this is please contact Det. Brett Reed at (517)853-4800, by email at reed@meridian.mi.us , or submit an anonymous tip using the link at the right of the page.

Do you know this man?

Do you know this man?  The man pictured to the left has been implicated in the theft and use of a elderly couple's credit cards.  The cards were then used at multiple local businesses on July 8th and July 9th, 2014.  The cards were used to purchase approximately $3600  worth of gift cards, clothes, and other merchandise.

If you know who this is please contact Sgt. Andrew McCready at (517)853-4800, by email at mccready@meridian.mi.us , or submit an anonymous tip using the link at the right of the page.

Fireworks ordinance

We get a lot of questions about acceptable uses of fireworks in the Township. Below you'll find our ordinances, or parts thereof that cover fireworks:

Sec. 54-43. – Fireworks (Prohibited in Parks) = Misdemeanor.
No person shall fire, discharge, or have in their possession any rocket, firecracker, torpedo, squib, or other firework or any substance of an explosive nature within park property. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.

Sec. 26-1. – Fireworks - Defines a Class B Consumer Fireworks as being restricted by the Meridian Ordinance.
As used in this section, the term "fireworks" means a device made from explosive or flammable compositions used primarily for the purpose of producing a visible display or means toy torpedoes, railway torpedoes, firecrackers, or salutes that do not qualify as class C fireworks, exhibition display pieces, aeroplane flares, illuminating projectiles, incendiary projectiles, incendiary grenades, smoke projectiles or bombs containing expelling charges but without bursting charges, flash powders in inner units not exceeding two ounces each, flash sheets in interior packages, flash powder or spreader cartridges containing not more than 72 grains of flash powder each, and other similar devices.

Class C fireworks means toy smoke devices, toy caps containing not more than 0.25 grains of explosive mixture, toy propellant devices, cigarette loads, trick matches, trick noise makers, smoke candles, smoke pots, smoke grenades, smoke signals, hand signal devices, Very signal cartridges, sparklers, explosive auto alarms, and other similar devices.

Sec. 26-1(b) – Sale of Class B is a Misemeanor

(b)​Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, use, or explode fireworks. The township board may permit the supervised public display of fireworks pursuant to the provisions of section 243b of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.243b), and the possession, storage, offer for sale, sale, or use of fireworks pursuant to a permit under such section. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by this Code.
(c)​The township fire chief, or his designee, shall seize, take, remove, or cause to be removed at the expense of the owner all fireworks or stocks of fireworks offered or exposed for sale, stored, or held in violation of this section.

Sec 26-2: “Ignition, Discharge and Use of Consumer Fireworks between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.” = CIVIL INFRACTION

Sec 26-3: “Ignition, Discharge and Use of Consumer Fireworks restricted to the day before, the day of, and the day after the National Holiday (except between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.) = CIVIL INFRACTION

Sec 26-4: Sky Lantern – Prohibited = CIVIL INFRACTION

Current vendors list

Vending: Meridian Township issues a license to a person or business for vending and an identification tag to each seller representing the business. Each seller must wear the identification tag in a manner that may easily be seen.

Canvassing/Soliciting: Meridian Township does not issue a license or ID tags to persons or nonprofit organizations that are not required by ordinance to obtain a vendor’s license. However, such persons or organizations are required by the Township’s vendor ordinance (Chapter 64) to “make a license application for purposes of information only.” I will include on the list the names of persons or organizations that do not have to obtain a vendor’s license but have made the required application.
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CURRENT LICENSED VENDORS:
Southwestern Advantage- Educational materials – Marcos Rodriguez, July 2 – August 18, 2014



CURRENT SALES OR SOLICITING BY PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A VENDOR’S LICENSE:

PIRGIM – canvassing door-to-door, contact person -Laura Murray, June 30, 2014 – July 31, 2014

Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination – door-to-door donations. Contact is Joseph Badura, May 9 – July 31, 2014.

Seventh-Day Aventist Church – door-to-door information pertaining to the church – June, July and August of 2014. Contact is Kamil Metx – Literature Ministries Director

Clean Water Action – door-to-door political canvassing – May, June and July 2014. Contact is Sean McBrearty

Edward Jones Investments–Joni Preston – Introductions door-to-door - May 2, 2014 – August 2, 2014

Okemos High School chapter of the Junior State of America (Junior Statesmen Foundation) canvassing door-to-door, June 9 – September 30, 2014