Ferndale Police Department

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know the Ferndale Police Department operates 24/7, 365 days a year? Our dedicated police officers and dispatchers are always on duty to serve and protect! Here’s a look at what our hardworking patrol officers accomplished in 2023: ? Patrolled 161,620+ miles ? Answered 12,840 emergency 911 calls ? Responded to 24,935 non-emergency calls ? Made 217 felony arrests ? Handled 811 misdemeanor arrests ? Issued 5,280 citations and 2,670 warnings

Exciting News for Our Community! Did you know that the police departments of Ferndale, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, and Hazel Park have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership with the Co-Response Community Outreach (CoRe) Program? This innovative initiative teams law enforcement with two mental health clinicians from the Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) to deliver specialized support to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. Each department will now have its own CoRe Team, including a dedicated Mental Health Clinician working alongside officers to: ·????????Provide case consultations and referrals ·????????Offer support before, during, and after crises ·????????Coordinate services to connect individuals with long-term resources ·????????Deliver specialized training to improve response ·????????These clinicians undergo rigorous training, including ride-alongs, co- responder shadowing, and safety protocols, to ensure smooth integration and effective support. Why this matters: ? Enhances police response with mental health expertise. ? Promotes early intervention and reduces the need for repeated emergency involvement. ? Helps connect individuals with resources, often diverting them from the criminal justice system. ? Lowers risks of escalation during crises. ? This partnership represents a significant step forward in public safety, emphasizing collaboration and care for community members in need. We’re optimistic about the positive impact this program will have and look forward to its continued growth. Together, we’re building stronger, safer communities. For more details, take a look at the recent article covering the official launch: https://lnkd.in/ekZu5xFU

On October 24, 2024, the Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, and Royal Oak Police Departments announced a new partnership with the Co-Response Community Outreach (CoRe) Program. This innovative mental health community outreach initiative contracts two mental health clinicians from Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) to work with the four police departments. This partnership will provide community members affected by mental health and substance use disorders with additional support. The program aims to supplement police response with specialized approaches, offering support before, during, and after a crisis. Each police department will have its own CoRe Team, consisting of the CoRe Team Coordinator, CoRe Liaison Officers, and a Mental Health Clinician. The clinician will be embedded within the law enforcement setting to offer case consultations, coordinate services, and provide referrals for individuals in need. Additionally, the Mental Health Clinician will assist the CoRe Teams with training and coordination. The two clinicians have undergone extensive prerequisite training to ensure a smooth partnership and effective operations. This training included reviewing policies and procedures, 40 hours of ride-alongs with police officers, 40 hours of shadowing a co-responder, safety training with law enforcement, and more. The program focuses on connecting individuals with essential services and, when possible, diverting them from the criminal justice system. By working together, this initiative enhances the community’s response to people in crisis by integrating proactive mental health clinicians into the field. These clinicians provide critical services and mental health follow-up, promoting early intervention and reducing the need for repeated or emergency police involvement. In turn, this lowers the risk of force or escalation. The ultimate goal is to link individuals with long-term, stabilizing support that improves their well-being. Having a mental health clinician on call to accompany police officers in the field represents a major advancement in community support. The partnership between the four police departments and the CoRe program highlights their commitment to public safety. This new resource marks significant progress in serving the community, with optimism for the continued growth of this partnership over time. The partnership, driven by the motto “Responding as One,” reflects a shared commitment among the four police departments and OCHN to provide both safety and support, while fostering teamwork, progress, and hope. The CoRe Program underscores a collective dedication to serving communities with professionalism and empathy, enabling police and mental health professionals to address mental health challenges more effectively and with timely, targeted responses. This collaboration marks the beginning of what all partners hope will be a long-lasting, positive change in the four communities for years to come.

Yesterday, the Ferndale Police Department Honor Guard had the privilege of joining the Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Ferndale Memorial Association. It was an honor to stand alongside our community and recognize the service and sacrifices of all Veterans. Thank you to those who served!

This past weekend, officers from the Ferndale Police Department, along with Co-Responder Alyssa, joined the Halloween festivities at the Downtown Ferndale Trick-or-Treat event and Life Labs' Trunk or Treat! They had a blast handing out candy to all the little ghosts and goblins. Even Officer Bones made a special appearance to spread some Halloween spirit.

That’s a Wrap! Our 2024 Citizens Police Academy has officially come to an end! A huge thank you to all the participants who took time out of their busy schedules to learn more about the Ferndale Police Department. And a big shoutout to everyone who helped make this a fantastic experience for all involved. We appreciate you!

The officers from the Ferndale Police Department attended the Ferndale Fall Festival today, enjoying the opportunity to connect with the community and take part in the fall festivities. We had a great time ensuring that everyone had a safe and enjoyable experience. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and spend time with us! ????♀?

??♂???♀? Bike Safety Series - Episode 2: Mastering Hand Signals! ??? This episode will break down the essential hand signals every person on a bike and motorist needs to know! Signalling your turns and stops not only helps you stay safe but also keeps everyone on the road aware of your moves. Stay tuned for more safety tips!

New Video Series Alert! We're excited to launch our new video series focused on Bike Lane Safety! Whether you're a cyclist, driver, or pedestrian, we're all in this together to keep our roads safe. Our first episode will explain how a motorist should safely merge into traffic while crossing through a bike lane. Watch now and learn how small changes can make a big impact on our community's safety

It is with profound sadness that the Ferndale Police Department has learned of the passing of Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Dan Kerstetter, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a traffic accident while on duty on September 13, 2024. Our condolences go out to Officer Kerstetter’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Officer Kerstetter.