Brandon Twp.- The good news is, crime in the township decreased in 2008.
But beware: Obey the traffic laws or face a ticket? deputies issued 1,858 citations last year, compared to just 816 in 2007.
‘It is an honor to go in front of the township board and give such a gleaming report of our capabilities,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Brandon Substation Sgt. Pete Burkett. ‘Major crime is down and our self-generated work (tickets) is up significantly. Our deputies are doing an outstanding job and it is reflected in the statistics.?
Among the findings in the OCSO Brandon Township Substation annual report: the number of calls for service decreased by 219, from 5,640 in 2007 to 5,421 in 2008; assault offenses decreased by nearly half? from 124 in 2007 to 67 in 2008; damaged property reports were only 78 last year compared to 133 in 2007; sex offenses decreased by half, from 10 to 5; and juvenile complaints fell from 114 in 2007 to 72 in 2008.
Crimes that rose in 2008 from the previous year included larceny? 146 in 2008 compared to 131 in 2007; drug offenses, 25 last year, up five from 2007; and liquor law violations doubled to 20 last year from 10 the year before.
The number of people arrested for driving drunk or on drugs in the township has also doubled? there were 57 such arrests in 2008, up from 27 in 2007. Of the 57, 40 were first time OWI offenses, eight were OWI second offenses and nine drivers were arrested on their third or subsequent OWI offense.
Traffic crashes have been on the decline, however, Burkett said’down to 400 in 2008, from 427 in 2007 and 456 in 2006.
He is pleased overall with the statistics in the report.
‘We’re making sure people are doing the right things in the township and we’re putting away the bad guys,? he said.
‘The citizens of Brandon should be very proud of the representation they get from the sheriff’s office here.?