TRAVERSE CITY — At 9 a.m. Dec. 29, the Traverse City Police Department introduced Jared Garvin as its new downtown community police officer.
Per z Dec. 29 news release, Garvin has been with the department for two years and previously worked a night road patrol shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
He also serves as a member of the Motorcycle Unit and as a firearms instructor, the department said.
“These roles have strengthened my leadership abilities, attention to detail, and commitment to public safety,” Garvin said. “The skills I’ve developed assist me with how I approach challenges both on and off duty while encompassing compassion and empathy.”
The department said the primary goal of the downtown community police officer is to enhance quality of life and proactively address issues within the geographical boundaries of TIF 97 and the Old Town TIF.
The department said that work is achieved by maintaining and further developing partnerships with community members, downtown business owners and the Downtown Development Authority.
The department said it partnered with the Downtown Development Authority in 2019 to bring back an officer dedicated to the downtown area after the position was reassigned in 2010 due to staffing.
The partnership allowed the Traverse City Police Department and the Downtown Development Authority to equally fund the cost of an officer until 2023, when the Downtown Development Authority budgeted to fund the position fully.
Officer Culver held the position since its reintroduction and is now assigned to a day road patrol shift, the department said.
The Traverse City Police Department thanked Culver for his time working with the downtown community and welcomed Garvin into the role.