HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Allegan County’s crime rate jumped — along with the population — according to Sheriff’ Frank Baker.
In 2019, deputies responded to 23,261 calls for service, he said, up from 19,000 in 2015.
A decade ago, his office lost some employee to early retirements and positions that remained unfilled; overall staffing dropped from 63 to 46.
By working with county government officials, Baker said, some of those jobs have been restored, but not all.
He expects to hire a road patrol deputy this year, and a detective, he said.
The county developed a cost-sharing plan for policing such communities as Saugatuck.
Baker said he’s looking forward to learning more about what residents want via a community survey
