Mount Pleasant police patrol Welcome Weekend alongside CMUPD
Much like Central Michigan University's police department, Mount Pleasant police have a difficult job of balancing order and fun during Welcome Weekend.
Central Michigan Life tagged along with Officer Jeff Browne, Mount Pleasant's public information officer, on Friday night to see what it is like to be a city police officer during one of CMU's largest party weekends.
Browne patrolled the streets of Mount Pleasant by car with a focus on the student section of housing between Bellows and High streets and Lansing and Douglas streets. Other police officers and medical personnel patrolled the streets on foot.
"Sometimes a lot of the things can be deterred by a heavy presence in the area," Browne said. "Some folks are really cool. Most people are pretty respectful. The problems come with few people."
The following is a timeline of events that took place between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Friday.
8:19 p.m. -- Drove along Main, Washington and Franklin streets. The parties were just starting.
8:26 p.m. -- Browne stopped at the corner of Douglas and May streets and approached a woman under 21 for holding a beer while walking along the street. He advised her not to do it again.
8:48 p.m. -- Browne went to Portabella Drive on a loud party/disturbance call. The smell of fireworks was lingering in the air. No one was found shooting them off at the premises.
8:58 p.m. -- A routine traffic stop for running a red light on the corner of Mission and Bellows streets occurred. Browne let the driver off with a warning.
9:06 p.m. -- The first alcohol traffic stop was heard over the radio.
9:33 p.m. -- Another traffic stop at the corner of Mission Street and Deerfield Road. The stopped vehicle did not have headlights on and was pulled over to the left. Browne let the driver off with a warning.
9:51 p.m. -- A routine traffic stop took place the corner of Main and Bellows streets. The driver did not have their headlights on. Students at the houses booed Browne for pulling the driver over. Browne let the driver off with a warning.
9:59 p.m. -- Browne was called to the scene of an accident. One driver had rear-ended another on the corner of High and University streets. There were no injuries. One car had a broken axle.
10:20 p.m. -- Browne was called to assist with a loud noise complaint on Lansing Street. Officer Kurt Solmonson was already on the scene. The two walked along the street and talked with residents about the loud music.
