TRAVERSE CITY — This weekend will be one week since the deadly shooting that claimed the life of a city employee.
But it’ll also be a busy time downtown, bringing more people to the city’s parking decks.
Event organizers are asking people to use the garages when they come to town on Saturday for the tree lighting, saying the decks normally don’t see any theft, and what happened last weekend was very unusual for downtown Traverse City
But after recent tragic events, they aren’t taking any chances, and the department plans to be out in force.
“This will be the largest police presence that we’ve had during the tree lighting parade,” said Pete Simerson, captain with the Traverse City police Department. “We’re working with the DDA. We’re working with DC fire. We’ve added the two surveillance camera trailers. We want the community to feel safe and secure. We want the community to see our officers.”
Those cameras will link back to a specialized command center located downtown, staffed by the chief of police. If they see anything suspicious, they will be able to act fast
But even with the added surveillance, police rely on community involvement, and they are urging people to keep an eye out for anything that looks out of the ordinary.
“If you see anything, say something,” Simerson said. “Call us, we will be down there. In any instance, nothing is too small. So please call us and we’ll help them with whatever they need.”
Last weekend’s deadly shooting started with a vehicle break-in in the Larry-C-Hardy parking deck. Police say these well-lit and monitored areas are still the safest places for you and your car.
But if you’re still worried about theft, the best thing to do is keep your doors locked and your valuables well hidden.