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Paul Stuligross
About the Novi Police
Department According
to the Novi Police Department, “In 1954, the Township of Novi, Michigan decided to establish their own police department.
While the Oakland County Sheriff had been patrolling the small farming community of approximately 5000 people, the Board of
Trustees at that time had a vision for the future. Lee BeGole, a member of the Wayne County Sheriff’s
Department and a World War II U.S. Army Veteran, was hired as Chief of Police. BeGole organized the fledgling organization,
serving alone initially, and adding three or four officers later on. He was a dedicated law enforcement officer who served
the City for 32 years.”
Today, the Novi Police Department is
a full-service law enforcement agency that is organized into three divisions: General Service Division; Communications Division;
and Uniformed Division.
According to the Novi Police Department,
“the Uniform Division is made up of 45 patrol officers, eight sergeants and one lieutenant. The men and women of this
division are the first responders to calls of all nature. Several officers are assigned to the traffic section. Another officer
is the K-9 handler. Besides the black and white patrol cars seen throughout the city, officers also use motorcycles and mountain
bikes to serve the community.”
According to the Novi Police Department,
the Investigation Section (which is part of the General Services Division) has the responsibility to “investigate all
crimes and gather all evidence related to those crimes. Upon completing their investigations the Detectives
are required to submit all findings to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office, or the Novi City Prosecutor’s Office
for formal criminal charges. There are several specialty areas within the Investigation Section that are vital to its success.
A Juvenile Detective is responsible for investigating all crimes related to juveniles as well as developing partnerships with
several community groups that work with the children in and around Novi. A Court Services Detective is responsible for dealing
with all court proceedings, prisoners and maintaining the department’s property room. A School Resource Officer is assigned
to the Novi High School and is responsible for a variety of activities that take place in that facility. The SRO not only
investigates criminal activity but serves as a liaison between the PD and the school as well as several other entities within
the city.”
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