TRAVERSE CITY— The Traverse City Police Department currently employs 33 sworn officers, similar to where staffing stood more than two decades ago, according to Police Chief Matthew G. Richmond.
“When I first started here in 2004, 2005, we had 33 sworn officers,” Richmond said. “We have budgeted positions for 34 sworn officers now. And we currently have 33. We have one vacancy.”
Traverse City’s permanent population has not grown significantly due to geographic constraints, Richmond said, but the city experiences large daily and seasonal population increases. He cited commuters from surrounding areas and tourists during the summer months.
“There is an influx of people daily that come into our city that we are accountable for,” Richmond said. “And we have to make sure that we provide public safety for everyone within our city limits.”
Calls for service have increased during Richmond’s tenure, he said, even as the city’s resident population has remained relatively stable.
Richmond said staffing levels have fluctuated over the years as budget priorities and departmental needs changed. He noted the department significantly reduced staffing between 2010 and 2013 before gradually rebuilding to its current level of 34 budgeted sworn positions.
The department does not rely on a single national or population-based staffing formula when determining its personnel needs. Instead, Richmond said staffing decisions are based on an annual evaluation of departmental reports, goals, objectives and strategies.
Richmond said the department also considers whether certain tasks performed by sworn officers could be shifted to civilian positions, allowing officers to spend more time in the community.
Since July 2023, Richmond said the department has added three positions: two sworn officers and one police support services worker assigned to the department’s quick response team.
He said those additions support community policing efforts and specialized roles, including traffic enforcement, crime prevention related to narcotics, and outreach to vulnerable populations such as people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders.
Richmond also pointed to partnerships that expand police presence, including a downtown officer funded by the Downtown Development Authority and school resource officers assigned to Northwest Education Services and Traverse City Area Public Schools.
Amid public concern following recent high-profile incidents, including a parking deck shooting, Richmond pushed back on claims that Traverse City has become unsafe.
“I believe Traverse City is a safe community,” he said. “You’re going to have things that happen no matter where you live.”
Richmond said serious crimes such as homicides, aggravated assaults and criminal sexual conduct complaints are not new to the city and do not represent a growing trend.
“We’re not seeing anything that we haven’t seen in the past,” he said.
As the city enters budget season with a new city manager and city commission, Richmond said future staffing requests will continue to be driven by community and departmental needs.
“If I feel that we need more staffing, whether it’s a sworn law enforcement position or a civilian position,” he said, “I’ll ask for that.”