Chief Matthew G. Richmond
Welcome to the Traverse City Police Department (TCPD) Web Page. It is an honor to be the Chief of Police in a dynamic community. It is a privilege to be the leader of a dedicated and professional group of police officers.
Traverse City is rapidly becoming a diverse city with a population of 15,000 people. The Traverse City Police Department was one of the leaders in implementing community policing in the 1980s and 1990s. Working closely with Michigan State School of Criminal Justice and Regional Community Policing Institute; the Traverse City Police Department developed community policing strategies for several decades. With the decrease of government funding for community policing, we saw our community policing sector patrol reduced to two officers.
The Traverse City Police Department has embraced community policing strategies and philosophies since the mid 1980’s. However, over time, economic funding decreased forcing the department to reallocate its dedicated community policing (sector) officers back to road patrol. In 2015, the department rebranded its mission “Excellence in public safety and service through community policing.” Using the recommendations of the 21 st Century Policing Task Force Report as guidance, the Traverse City Police Department refocused itself as a premier community-policing agency. The department is focused on forming community partnerships along with using evidence based policing strategies to identify public safety concerns within the city.
Community policing and Crime Reduction is the title of Pillar 4, from the 21 st Century Policing Report. This pillar laid the groundwork to begin the rebuilding or our dedicated community-policing positions. The department currently has four community-policing positions; Downtown Community Police Officer (DCPO), Crime Prevention Officer (CPO), North Boardman Community Police Officer (NOBO) and a Neighborhood Traffic Officer (NTO). In addition, the department integrated a Social Worker within the department to bridge the gap between law enforcement and community service providers.
The department, through its Social Worker, quickly developed an emerging model on how to provide wrap-around services for people experiencing crises related to substance use, mental health, and homelessness. Referred to as the QRT which stands for: QUICK identification of resources and shortcomings of community supports for Vulnerable People in Traverse City. RESPONSE to overdoses in the community, connecting people to treatment. TEAM members who discuss needs of individuals to promote wrap-around community services.
The mission is: The Traverse City Police Department QRT will implement Quick support to individuals at risk for, and following, overdose. To address the link between substance misuse, mental health, and homelessness, the QRT will also address (respond to) the systemic barriers to recovery by examining gaps in local social service provisions and supporting wrap-around services for vulnerable populations in the Traverse City community. The QRT has brought together 36 community partners to provide needed support.
As recommended by the 21 st Century Policing Report, “Law enforcement agencies should work with community residents to identify problems and collaborate on implementing solutions that produce meaningful results for the community.”
Thank you for browsing TCPD webpage. We welcome any comments that you have to improve the quality of life in our beautiful city.
I can be reached at (231) 995-5159. My email is mrichmond@traversecitymi.gov