By Officer Jenni Eby
Wyoming Department of Public Safety
Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.
Check back each week for trivia questions!
In 2020, the Wyoming Police Department responded to how many calls for service?
1) almost 25,000
2) almost 28,000
3) almost 30,000
4) almost 32,000
By Jenni Eby
Wyoming Department of Public Safety
With all the snow we’ve had in the last two weeks, it might seem like it’s easier to get around by snowmobile than car! But is it legal to ride a snowmobile on city streets?
2) No; It’s against city ordinance to ride a snowmobile on any public property, including but not limited to city parks, sidewalks, streets, and parkways.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
There is one holiday event that the officers at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety look forward to — Shop With a Cop — and the officers were not about to let COVID prevent it from happening.
Traditionally, children are partnered with a police officer or firefighter from the department and shop for things that are on their Christmas list. But the recent COVID-19 pandemic put a kink in those plans due to restrictions large gatherings.
So instead, the officers from the department’s community service unit, with lists in hand, headed to the Meijer on Clyde Park Avenue and went shopping for the children.
“We have done this for a numbers of years,” said Connie Searl. “They are a great part of our community and they come in and shop for all the different kids to make sure they too have a great Christmas.”
Officers connected with students over the phone and through email to get their wish lists. With a $3,000 donation from Clyde Park Meijer and $2,500 from the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, the officers spent several hours shopping for gifts for the children and their families. Lt. Joe Steffes, part of the community service unit, said the department helped about 40 families this year.
There was a wrapping party at the station with about every officer pitching in to help. Officers then delivered the gifts to the children and their families.
Steffes said the officers are thrilled at the opportunity to make the holidays a little brighter for some of the community’s families.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to connect with police in a fun and exciting way,” Koster said. “Their time is spent shopping, talking and getting to know each other. One of the really cool things that we see every year is that most children want to spend their money on gifts for their family members. I just love that.”
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the Nov. 27 homicide of Cynthia McCoy, 34 year-old mother of four children. Investigators have identified two vehicles of interest in the investigation and are asking the public for help in identifying the owner’s and/or drivers of these vehicles.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety or Silent Observer.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the reports of gunshots fired and a person down on the sidewalk in the 900 block of Burton St. SW.
The initial investigation indicates that 34-year-old female was walking on the sidewalk when she was shot. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where she was was pronounced deceased. After shooting the victim, the suspect fled the area on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown race male, 5’10” – 6’2” tall, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and blue face mask.
Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7366 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is looking for anyone with information about a Nov. 27 homicide to contact the department or Silent Observer.
According to a department press release, at a approximately 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 27, the Wyoming Department of Public safety responded to reports of gunshots fired and a person down on the sidewalk in the 900 block of Burton St. SW.
The initial investigation indicates that Grand Rapids resident Cynthia Jean McCoy was walking on the sidewalk when she was shot. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased. After shooting the victim, the suspect fled the area on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown race male, 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and blue face mask.
Detectives continue to work to learn the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7366 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
By Officer Jenni Eby
City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety
During the odd/even enforcement period of Dec. 1, 2019 to Mar. 31, 2020, Wyoming police officers responded to almost 11,000 calls for service. To prepare. the past few weeks the Traffic Tuesday has been focused on those enforcement issues.
How many odd/even parking tickets were written during Dec. 1, 2019 to Mar. 31, 2020?
The City of Wyoming’s odd/even parking takes affect Dec. 1. It is enforceable from midnight to 7 p.m. Cars are to be parked on the even numbered addresses on even numbered calendar days. On odd number days, residents may park in front of the odd number addresses. Those in cul-de-sacs may only park on the street on even numbered calendar days. Streets with “No Parking,” signs will continue to have no parking restrictions.
The odd/even parking is designed to allow the city’s snow plow trucks to be able to clear the streets after a snowfall.
By Office Jenni Eby
Wyoming Department of Public Safety
Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.
An officer is called to an odd/even parking violation in the middle of January. When the officer arrives, there are two vehicles parked in violation of the odd/even ordinance. What enforcement action can occur, according to the ordinance?
The City of Wyoming’s odd/even parking takes affect Dec. 1. It is enforceable from midnight to 7 p.m. Cars are to be parked on the even numbered addresses on even numbered calendar days. On odd number days, residents may park in front of the odd number addresses. Those in cul-de-sacs may only park on the street on even numbered calendar days. Streets with “No Parking,” signs will continue to have no parking restrictions.
The odd/even parking is designed to allow the city’s snow plow trucks to be able to clear the streets after a snowfall.
By Officer Jenni Eby
City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety
Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.
Texting While Driving Fines
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is currently participating in enhanced distracted driving enforcement – so this’s week’s question is about distracted driving! Did you know that texting while driving tickets get more expensive if you get more than one? For first time offenders, the ticket is a civil infraction and a $100 fine. A second offense is also a civil infraction, but the fine is increased. How much does someone pay for a second offense texting while driving ticket?
Answer: The answer is $200; the fine is doubled for the second offense.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
“I’ll give you some food,” said Elmer Geovany Lopez Toi as he hands a McDonald’s bag to two homeless men sitting on steps. “I like to help people.,” Toi said to the two men he met in August as he hands them money and more food.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is hoping that by releasing the five-minute video, found on Toi’s phone, residents will see Toi’s act of humility and kindness and it will encourage someone in the community to come forward and help solve his murder.
Toi, 20, along with Santos Padilla Banegas, 16, were shot Sept. 16. The two were both shot while walking along Division Avenue near Wilbur Street. The area is north of 44th Street. For an early release, police said they believe the vehicle involved in the shooting could be a dark-colored 2010-11 GMC Acadia.
Police said they believe the Acadia had multiple occupants and was last seen headed south on Jefferson Avenue from Wilbur Street. Officers arrived to find the Banegas and Toi near the road. Toi was pronounced dead at the scene and Banegas died later at Metro Health Hospital from his injuries.
Since then, the Wyoming Public Safety detectives have been working diligently to develop information and follow leads in the double homicide, according to a release from the department.
It was during the investigation, detectives discovered the video on Toi’s phone. According to detectives, the video does not appear to be directly relevant to the investigation, but by sharing the video the department hopes it “will serve as a reminder of the humanity and tragedy of this case.”
“We share this video with our community for two reasons,” said Capt. James Maguffee in a release to the media. “First, it seems right to share a story of a resident of the City of Wyoming, victimized in a horrible crime, engaged in an act of humility and kindness. We expect our community will be moved in the way we were when we saw this video. Second, these sorts of crimes are often solved, and justice served, when citizens with the right piece of information come forward.
According to police sources, Toi was an immigrant to the United States with no family in the area. Through the investigation, there has been no indication thus far that suggest either Banegas or Toi were involved in criminal acts or engaged in behavior that might have invited the violence inflicted on them.
Anyone with information about the case are encouraged to call the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7335 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. A donor has matched the initial cash reward and it now stands at $5,000.
By Officer Jenni Eby
Wyoming Department of Public Safety
Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.
Question: What is the speed limit in a residential neighborhood if there are no posted speed limit signs?
Answer: 25 mph, according to MCL 257.627
By Officer Jenni Eby
City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety
Traffic Tuesday Question: School Bus Lights. Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.
You’re driving behind a school bus when its overhead (upper) yellow lights begin flashing. What should you do?
1) Proceed with caution around the bus
2) Prepare to stop behind the bus
3) I’m not sure after last week’s question, I’ll check back Thursday for the answer!
Check back on Thursday to learn the answer!
Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety posts a question on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday. **Please do not post the answer in the comments, so that others have a chance to answer on their own** Note: the answer can be found on both the WKTV Journal website and in the community social media site Nextdoor.
For the next few weeks, we’re going to discuss law violations in parking lots. This week’s question: If you are doing burn outs in a parking lot, can you receive a citation?
Answer: Yes, citation for careless driving or reckless driving. The specific citation depends on the circumstances (are there people/other vehicles around, could anyone have been hurt or did anyone get hurt?)
On Tuesday, there will be a new question.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
The picnic tables at Wyoming’s Pinery Park in front of the city stage were full, not for a concert but for the Wyoming City Council’s first 2020 summer outdoor council meeting.
For the past four years, the Wyoming City Council has taken its meeting on the road, visiting different neighborhoods within the city during the summer.
“I have been wanting to come to a meeting for awhile,” said Wyoming resident Mary Vickers, who added that attending was often difficult as she had to get her son ready for bed at about the same time as the meetings. “When I heard that this one was going to be at Pinery Park, I said good. We’ll go for a walk and find out what it is all about.”
That according to Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll is the reason why the Wyoming City Council has been hosting the outdoor meetings: to connect with the citizens and to encourage more people to get involved.
“We had some new faces and more citizens here for the meeting who had some individual concerns and it was good we were to be able to listen,” Poll said after the meeting.
Several residents talked to council members and staff before the meeting on topics of concern including helping to slow traffic on some city streets to more universal access for the city parks. During the meeting, a couple of residents came up to talk about the cost of the replacement of the police cars that were lost during the May 31 riots in Grand Rapids and the need for crossing guards at Lee Street and Cleveland Avenue.
“We don’t see this kind of crowd at the city council chambers,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sam Bolt during the meeting. “It is nice to be able to hear their community concerns and to know what is going on in their neighborhood.”
During the meeting Police Chief Kim Koster presented the 2019 Public Safety report, which is available to citizens at the City of Wyoming website under the Public Safety tab. Koster noted the department had almost 7,000 calls for service in 2019, the highest number the department has had in a year. This included 4,677 EMS responses, which was also the highest number in a year.
Other numbers for year were:
158 Fire Events
404 Fire Alarms
330 Service Events
815 Good Intent Responses
409 Hazardous Condition Responses
Koster also noted that the Community Services Unit continues to maintain and build positive relationships having had 11,472 citizen/student contacts. The unit has attended community events, community meetings and provided lectures and presentations, along with follow-investigations, truancy complaints, and arrests.
Along with Koster’s report, the council received a report on an analytical study on how the residents felt the city was doing. The council also approved several budget items that included the approval to have Prein & Newhof design and oversee construction of the Plaster Creek Boulevard and non-motorized trail project from Buchanan Avenue to Division Avenue.
Poll announced that the next on-the-road meeting will be Aug. 17 at the SpartanNash YMCA, located off of Gezon Parkway at 5722 Metro Way. All city council meetings start at 7 p.m.
The Wyoming City Council meets every first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. throughout the year. Regular meetings are at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. For more information about the Wyoming City Council or the various city committees, visit wyomingmi.gov.
All the city council meetings are broadcast lived by WKTV on the WKTV Community Media Facebook page and on the WKTV Government Channel 26. Meetings rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
By Catherine Kooyers
June 24th was an action-packed day on the grounds of Grace Bible College, and the weather couldn’t have been any better. Happy people, food, ice cones and family friendly activities brought the community and businesses together with firefighters, police officers and other first responders.
It was all part of ‘Boots and Badges’, an annual event hosted by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to honor and show appreciation for the area’s first responders. The idea is to get people connected with their local law enforcement outside of an emergency or distress call.
A fun-filled game of kickball between firefighters and police was just one of the highlights. Families posed for photos with mascots of the White Caps and Drive #1, hit the button on the dunk tank, competed in 9 Square (a volleyball-type game), checked out the vehicles used by first responders, and even became “honorary” first responders, complete with hats and badges.
Wyoming Public Safety today (Sept. 8) provided an update with additional details about yesterday’s shooting by a Wyoming Public Safety officer.
The suspect who was shot has been identified as Sadiq Bishara-Abaker Idris. Idris is 25 and a native of Sudan. He is believed to have been living in Grand Rapids. No additional details about Idris are available at this time, according to a release from the City of Wyoming Public Safety Department.
An autopsy was conducted this morning but is not yet complete pending results from a toxicology screen. The department confirmed that Idris died from a single gunshot wound but are not releasing additional details at this time due to the investigation being conducted by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
A portion of the incident was captured on dashcam, which is being reviewed by Kent County investigators and will not be released publicly at this time.
Kent County investigators continue to talk with witnesses and encourage anyone with information about the shooting to call the Kent County Sheriff’s Department at 616-632-6125 or to call Silent Observer at 616-744-2345 or toll-free at 866-774-2345.
As reported by the department in release last night, the incident began at a Wyoming gun store at approximately 5:24 p.m. when Idris, who had been looking at firearms, allegedly took a semi-automatic pistol, ran out the door and jumped on a bicycle. Wyoming Public Safety called in a canine unit, which tracked and found the abandoned bike.
Police searched the area and the canine unit continued to track Idris, but was unable to pick up the scent. At approximately 7:15 p.m., a witness called Wyoming Public Safety to report a man walking on 32nd Avenue SE near Eastern Avenue SE with what appeared to be a gun in his back pocket.
A Wyoming Public Safety officer was the first to make contact with Idris, who was on foot. The officer exited his patrol car and confronted Idris, who reached for his gun and pointed it at the officer. In defense of his own life, the officer fired his weapon, striking Idris.
Responding officers provided emergency medical aid to Idris, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Wyoming Public Safety Department protocol, the officer remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. To protect the integrity of the investigation, additional details about the suspect, the weapon involved and other information will not be shared at this time.
“This was an experienced officer who is a trained and seasoned professional,” said Wyoming Public Safety Director James Carmody in statement released last night. “We are grateful that he and other members of the public were not harmed [last night.]”
“We are following our protocol for an officer-involved shooting and are cooperating fully with the Sheriff’s Department, which is overseeing this investigation.”
