jriddle@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA You don’t see police costumes on Halloween anymore, said Erik Smith, undersheriff at the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office.
Once a profession that drew stiff competition, police work has declined in popularity as a job choice, to the point that police departments are scrambling to get good candidates to fill job openings.
Where once only three or four job postings might be found on any given day, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards website now lists pages of vacancies in police departments across the state.
The Alpena County Sheriff’s Office is currently feeling the pinch of tough-to-fill positions as it seeks to hire two deputies and two corrections officers.
jriddle@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Julie Riddle
Trooper Ashley Simpson stands behind the counter in the lobby of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post on Tuesday. People wishing to take part in the State Police’s Angel Program for addiction can ask for help at the post.
ALPENA When addiction has taken away home, there’s still somewhere to turn, said Trooper Ashley Simpson, of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post.
The Angel Program, which just marked three years of operation by the Michigan State Police, connects people with addictions of any kind to residential treatment.
Sixteen people have walked through the Alpena Post doors to say they were ready to make their lives better since the Angel Program was introduced in 2017, officials said.
jriddle@thealpenanews.com
Courtesy Photo
A Huron Undercover Narcotics Team detective holds 10 grams of methamphetamine. The drug was involved in at least 11 recent HUNT arrests, including one seizure of nearly 100 grams of the narcotic.
ALPENA Methamphetamines have become a strong presence in Northeast Michigan, law enforcement leaders said at a board meeting for the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team on Friday.
A spate of HUNT arrests at the beginning of the year point to the increase in trafficking of the drug into the area, 1st Lt. John Grimshaw told the board.
Grimshaw, commander of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post and chairman of the HUNT board of directors, said five or six years ago methamphetamines didn’t have much of a presence in Alpena.
Pictured above are members of the Alpena Police Department posing with their lunches provided by NAFCU.
Pictured are members of the Alpena County Sheriff s Department posing with their lunches provided by NAFCU.
Jennifer Lipps, NAFCU Alpena Branch Manager, stands with a member of the Michigan State Police Alpena Post after lunch delivery.
Courtesy Photos
In honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Northland Area Federal Credit Union stopped by several law enforcement agencies to say thank you. Meals were purchased from numerous local restaurants. Agencies have reported that this was a tough year with COVID-19 with first responders having to deal with the effects of the pandemic. “Anything we can do to bring attention to our law enforcement agencies – and what they and their families sacrifice every day for our communities is worth it,” said Northland Marketing Director Matt Duthler.
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