In an effort to improve the quality of life, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Independence Township Substation now has two new patrol investigators on the road.
Deputies Charles Farley and James Bowie were recently assigned to the new positions. The two will be focused on controlling crimes in the area neighborhoods such as vandalism and speeding.
‘It is my belief that this is what people want,? Lieutenant Dale LaBair said. ‘This deals with the quality of life in the township. By making this commitment we can make significant headway into reducing these problems.?
Farley and Bowie assumed their new duties on Jan. 10.
‘This also frees up some other officers to focus on other problems,? LaBair said.
They are currently working the 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift, but plan to flex the hours when the summer comes and the school gets out.
‘We will be doing residential patrol and going from subdivision to subdivision rather than spending time on the main roads,? Farley said. ‘We will deal with traffic complaints, any property damage complaints and if crimes occur in the same area, we will be able to spend more time investigating and patrolling that neighborhood.?
Both deputies want to make sure the public realizes that if they need to report any crimes that are in progress in a neighborhood, residents should still call dispatch or 911 if it is an emergency.
‘The information will be passed along to us,? Farley said.
Both deputies were already working in Independence Township. Bowie has been here since Feb. 2003 and Farley since May 2002. They were among the approximately 10 people who applied for the new positions.
Farley, who has been with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department since April 1991, grew up in Independence Township.
‘It is nice to come back and patrol the areas you played at as a kid. Some of my old neighbors are still here and I have a very personal desire to protect this area,? Farley said.
While Bowie has been in Independence Township for less than a year, he has been with O.C.S.D since Dec. 1996, he feels at home here.
‘I enjoy working in Independence Township. The citizens have been very welcoming and accepting. It is a very nice area and during my eight hour shift I intend to keep it that way,? Bowie said.
While you might not notice the deputies during these cold winter months, once the weather breaks the two plan to walk the neighborhoods and introduce themselves to the residents they serve.
‘We will definitely make an effort to personally introduce ourselves to the residents and just say hi,? Bowie said.