Groveland Twp.- Dennis O’Malley arrived home during the mid-day to unload some tables in the basement of his township home.
He was not home alone.
The owner of a Brandon Township restaurant and a catering service, O’Malley purchased 11 acres about 10 years ago and built a house on the wooded township property. The rural homestead is just the ticket, says O’Malley after residing in the urban Detroit area most of his life.
‘I knew I was home alone and then I heard the gun cabinet door open on the main floor–so I ran upstairs,? said O’Malley.
Once up stairs O’Malley found two men attempting to pry open the gun case where he kept several weapons. He estimated the age of the intruders to be about 20 years old.
‘I yelled at them, ‘hey what are you doing?? I recognized one of the men. Then the two men rushed me, right in my own house.?
O’Malley wrestled with the pair for more than a half hour. The scuffle spilled outside where the pair dragged him down the driveway as the two suspects attempted to leave in their car.
‘I was hanging on to the driver as they were driving away. He backed into my sailboat parked in the driveway and sped away.?
After they left he called 9-1-1 on his cell phone and gave his name, address and directions to his home.
?’The police need to come from the Groveland Post,? I told the dispatcher. An hour later the dispatcher asked directions to my house again.?
Finally after about an hour and half the state police arrived and asked what happened. They eventually arrested one of the suspects.
‘I was glad it was not my wife and kids,? he said.
While O’Malley is pleased the Michigan State Police coverage in the township, he maintains that perhaps a different type of police force is necessary in the area.
O’Malley and other township residents are especially concerned about police service after lawmakers voted Sept. 28 to close the township state police post on Dec. 1, which patrols Groveland, Holly and Rose townships. State Rep. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion) along with the House approved a supplemental budget bill that will, among other items, fund three state police posts shuttered by the Granholm administration. The Senate will consider the bill.
Following the deliberation on the future of the Michigan State Police O’Malley along with other residents are now speaking out about the need for a more localized police force in the township.
‘We need a community police department that knows were all the homes are and the residents in the community,? said O’Malley. The state police do a great job but they have better things to do then drive around the township.?
‘The cost of a community police department in Groveland Township is really not the issue when your families safety is at stake,? said O’Malley. I don’t care about a millage to support police after that incident I have not slept in weeks.?
Lt. Harold Love, interim-post commander at the Groveland Township State Police post says he will continue to encourage the troopers to make more contacts with residents, however the post is rather restricted. Currently about 14 troopers are at the post in addition to supervisors.
‘With the man power we have and the responsibility it’s something I can encourage trooper to do out in the area,? said Love. However the large area that we do cover and responses
‘To have a police force like a small town where you see officers all the time it’s not realistic for our type of policing. We respond to calls, and make proactive contacts, that’s part of our role here.?
Love added that in addition to coverage in Groveland, Holly and Rose townships we also respond to calls on I-75 and other areas if needed.
Leo and Kay Kisell, 78, lived in the township for about 35 years and also support community police department.
In 1995 thieves broke into Kisell’s home while Leo was in the barn, stealing three guns from his upstairs bedroom.
‘I called the state police it took almost a half hour for them to come,? said Kisell, a Brandon teacher for more than 35 years.
‘The only time the state police were prompt was when my credit card did not work at the ‘pay-at-the-pump,? at the gas station. They were out to my house before I got home. A community police officer would have known me better.?
Kisell also lived in Brandon Township for several years during the 1950s when they had a township police department.
‘Chief Tom Quisenberry knew people in town, he’d wave at you,? said Kisell. He knew where people lived, it was his community. Our township supervisor has done a good job and if we ever decided to vote for a police millage I’d vote for it. I would pay the extra for more safety.?
Pat and Bob Krug have lived in the township for about 10 years.
‘My son came home from school and noticed the screen was ripped and thought someone had broken into the house,? said Pat. ‘He ran to the neighbor house and called the state police who arrived in just minutes.?
The state police have so much more to do,? said Pat. I’d pay a little more for more personal coverage. Officers that know people a little better.?
Ed and Arlene Thompson have live in the township for about 20 years and helped a neighbor who was broken into a few years ago.
‘I find it hard to believe the savings they project since the only savings can be in personnel since the building is provided at no cost by the township,? said Ed Thompson.
‘Personally it looks like everyone in the township should arm themselves since the response will be so slow–we will be the only true deterrent to crime.?
Adding a local police patrol and creating more visibility will improve the situation, says Thompson.