Nearly two months after Clarkston reclaimed its midnight police shift, the city’s top cop says things are going well.
‘Some of the numbers are up, so unfortunately it looks like crime’s up,? interim Police Chief Jim Thompson told Clarkston City Council members as he presented statistics at an Aug 13 meeting. ‘Over the weekend, nine people were charged with loitering in (Depot Park) after dark.?
According to the city’s park ordinance, no one is allowed in the park between 10 p.m-5:30 a.m. withou special permission, or the person is passing through without loitering.
Thompson told council increased numbers were a function of intense patrolling during nighttime hours. The city cancelled a contract for midnight services by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and reinstated its own fulltime coverage June 30.
‘Parents are loving us because their 14-year-old daughters are being brought home by the police after being out with 15 or 16 year-old boyfriends no one knows about,? he said. ‘After I start seeing names twice, it’s ticket time. Everybody’s getting charged now, so maybe they’ll get the idea to stay out of the park.?
After-hours loitering and subsequent vandalism has been a problem in the city’s downtown park for a number of years, and continues to occur, even with increased surveillance by city police.
At the same meeting, Clarkston DPW Director Bob Pursley told council vandalism has caused his crews a great deal of extra work during recent months.
Just three weeks ago, for example, workers found spray paint covering all four sides of the park’s portable outhouses, and on the bike path and one of the play structures, as well.
Spray paint damage has been found in other parts of the city, most recently on the rear of Rudy’s Market and on a truck owned by Sadows Auction Gallery.
Although damage continues, Pursley said he believes police presence is slowing potential vandals.
‘It saves us a lot of work when police get down there and try to get these kids out,? he said. ‘I don’t know why, but we’ve had a lot of it this year. The spray painting has been crazy.?
Crews have also pulled garbage cans from the river and cleaned up other messes, he said.
Council is considering options to combat the problem.
‘You go to that park and it’s darker than heck,? Councilman Bill Rausch said, noting he’d accompanied two officers on separate midnight patrols. ‘You have to have a flashlight or you ain’t going to find your way. We’ve got to get some lights in there for our police officer’s safety as well as anyone who cuts through there.?