BAYANET (Bay Area Narcotics Team) consists of three street level drug enforcement teams and one mid to upper level conspiracy team. The jurisdictions serviced by BAYANET include Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw Counties.

One member from the Isabella County Sheriff's Office performs undercover narcotics operations, search warrants, informant leads and leads from other Deputies. The primary mission of BAYANET is to aggressively enforce all narcotics laws with special attention paid to street-level using and dealing.

There are currently 24 full and part time Corrections Officers working in the Isabella County Jail, which include 3 Corrections Sergeants. The County Jail is headed by the Jail Administrator, Lieutenant Tom Recker. The jail bed capacity is 198 which house's primarily local inmates. The jail also house's inmates for Livonia and Westland and occasionally surrounding counties whose jails are over capacity. The jail holds inmates who are sentenced to less than a year in jail. If an inmate is sentenced over a year they will spend their time in a Michigan Prison.

Inmate Weekly Visitation

Male inmates are entitled to one visit starting:

• Sundays: 12:30pm till 4:30pm and 5:30pm till 9:00pm
• Tuesday: 5:30pm till 9:00pm
• Wednesday: 5:30pm till 9:00pm

Female inmates are entitled to one visit starting:

• Thursdays: 5:30pm till 9:00pm
• Saturdays: 12:30pm till 4:30pm and 5:30pm till 9:00pm

Inmate Information Number (989)779-2872

Corrections Links:

Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS)

Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR) Inquiry

Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT)

Michigan Department of Corrections Most Wanted Escapees

Our Detectives work closely with the Prosecuting Attorneys Office to assure their investigation has no "loop holes." Detectives also enjoy a very good working relationship with other law enforcement agencies in the County. They also work with other outside Local, State, Federal and International Police agencies to help solve crimes that very often cross jurisdiction boundaries. Both Detectives have traveled the United States and even Canada on major case investigations.

The team is outfitted with dry suits to dive in open water and under the ice. The Dive Team takes on the responsibilities of searching for drowned persons and recovering items and evidence underwater.

Over the last several years the Sheriff's Office Dive Team has recovered stolen guns, vehicles and other items. The Sheriff's Office Dive Team takes great pride in their abilities and accomplishments, as their work is very dangerous. The Dive Team operates with little or no knowledge of what is under the water. Information provided by witnesses is often sketchy or distorted. The Dive Team usually experiences very poor visibility in most of the bodies of water in the county. This can make items very difficult to locate.

Below are some photographs from our latest dive in recovering an ATV that went through the ice. You must have Macromedia Flash Player to view the photos.

The mission of the team is to support any requesting police agency with a tactical response to a critical incident. This would mean if a situation presents an unacceptable risk to uniformed officers or the public, the Emergency Services Team would be called out for service. Situations would include a barricaded gunman, high risk arrest and search warrants, school violence incidents.

The Emergency Services Team currently consists of 14 tactical members and 4 Negotiator members. They are on-call 24 hours a day via a pager.

In order to be a member of this team, an individual must be physically fit, meet rigorous mandatory training requirements, and to be a team player.

The Emergency Services Team trains regularly once a month. They undergo a week long Combat Readiness Camp, once a year in Alpena. They train in defensive tactics, long range weapons (snipers), less lethal weapons (pepper ball and impact projectiles), chemical munitions (pepper & tear gas), and have extensive training with firearms.

The Marine Division is also responsible for hosting Boater Safety Classes. They also perform livery inspections and can be called to assist the Dive Team.

Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws

Isabella County Sheriffs Department

Boater Safety Course 2005

The Isabella County Sheriff Department is offering boater safety courses for boaters 12 years old and older.

Students may attend one of the following courses in 2005:
Note: all classes are FREE and a sack lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required 5 days in prior.

• Pre-registration is required 5 days prior to the date of the class with students date of birth.
• Special accommodations require at least 2 (two) weeks prior notice.
• To register, please contact the Sheriff's Department Monday through Friday 8am - 4pm
  at (989) 772-5911 ext. 273.
• Students need to know their address and telephone number.
• You may email your registration to the Sheriff's Department (icsdboat@isabellacounty.org) along with the following information:
  
  - Today's Date
  - Date of Class you want to attend
  - Last Name
  - First Name, Middle Initial
  - Street Address
  - City, State, Zip
  - Date of Birth
  - Sex
  - Parent Name
  - Telephone Number
  - Any Special Accommodations
  
  (you may also fax the information to (989) 773-2739).
  

Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm

Saturday 9am to 2pm

Closed Sundays and Holidays

The Corrections/Jail entrance is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, for inmate visitation when available and to bond out inmates.

Isabella County Sheriff's Office Fee Schedule:

Deputies work 10 hour shifts 4 days a week and their work schedule rotates every 8 weeks. Isabella County Sheriff Deputies spend most of their time in Ford Crown Victoria Patrol Cars (as seen below).

The unit's primary function is to reduce accidents, save lives and facilitate the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout Isabella County. This includes dealing with traffic problems, aggressive drivers, and speeding vehicles through neighborhoods.

The Traffic Team does this by enforcing a variety of traffic laws that include speeding, not wearing your seatbelt, tailgating, running stop signs and red lights, failing to yield and improper turns and lane changes. Motorists often ignore yellow lights and often speed up to get through the light, which will often get you a ticket. The law states: If the signal exhibits a steady yellow indication, vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection or at a limit line when marked, but if the stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection.

Motorists are urged to slow down when the roadway is wet, snow and ice covered. Too many accidents occur when drivers are driving too fast for road conditions. Even if you are driving 25 mph on a snow or ice covered road and you lose control and cause an accident you are in violation of Michigan Law. The law states a person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive at a careful and prudent speed not greater nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other conditions then existing. A person shall not drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within assured, clear distance ahead. Get a traffic citation for Violation of the Basic Speed Law and it will cost you a $100 fine in Isabella County and the additions to two points on your driving record.

Motorists are reminded that in most residential areas the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. Motorists need to learn to take their time when traveling down busy streets. Too many accidents can occur when you are driving too fast or running late for work or school. Speeding from 1-10 mph over the speed limit will cost you a $95-$105 fine and two points on your license. If you are caught going 16 mph over the limit it will cost you over $125 and four points.

Motorists are urged to wear their seatbelts at all times when traveling. Statistics show that most accidents occur within 20 miles or your home. You must also wear your seatbelt properly, having the shoulder belt underneath your arm does not constitute you wearing it properly. Michigan has had a mandatory safety belt law since 1985. However, law enforcement officers could only enforce the law as a secondary action. That means the driver had to be pulled over for another violation, speeding for example, before a seatbelt ticket could be written. In 1999, former Governor John Engler signed Public Act 29, the standard enforcement law that strengthens Michigan's safety belt law and allows police officers to stop a vehicle if they observe the driver or front seat passenger not wearing a safety belt, or, not properly restrained child.

Michigan's standard enforcement safety belt law requires all front seat passengers be buckled up, all passengers under 16 years of age be buckled up regardless of seating position, and all children under age 4 be in an approved child safety seat. It is also recommended that children who outgrow a child safety seat be properly fitted for a booster seat. Michigan drivers pulled over for non-seatbelt use can expect to pay tickets of $65 for non-belted drivers and passengers, and $95 for children under the age of 4 not restrained in a child safety seat.

Although not a law yet, if you must talk on your cellular phone pull off the roadway and stop. Numerous times officers clock someone speeding talking on their cellular phone not paying attention. House Bill 5015 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to specify that the use of hand-held cellular phones while driving would be a civil infraction. Currently under the law, a driver who operates a vehicle in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger any person or property (but without wantonness or recklessness) is responsible for a civil infraction. Under the bill, "careless or negligent manner" would include the use of a hand-held cellular telephone that prevented the person from having both hands on the steering wheel of the vehicle while operating the vehicle, except when necessary to dial a number.

Here are some Traffic Team statistics from the past 2 years. In 2001 Officers wrote 4,526 hazardous moving violations (which would include speeding, stop sign/light violations, fail to yield). They wrote 948 non-hazardous violations (which would include registration, insurance and drivers license violations). They wrote 191 seatbelt violations. They also gave 3,841 verbal/written warnings and made a total of 7,480 traffic stops on vehicles. They made 58 drunken driving arrests, arrested 19 felony-related charges, 168 misdemeanor related charges and made 58 warrant arrests. They also handled 304 traffic accidents and assisted 141 stranded motorists.

In 2002 Officers wrote 4,222 hazardous moving violations. They wrote 849 non-hazardous violations. They wrote 211 seatbelt violations. They also gave 2,815 verbal/written warnings and made a total of 6,169 traffic stops. They made 71 drunken driving arrests, arrested 12 felony-related charges, 162 misdemeanor related charges and made 32 warrant arrests. They also handled 257 traffic accidents and assisted 64 stranded motorists

The Sheriff's Office also has a Secondary Road Patrol (416) traffic unit whose responsibility is to patrol secondary roads and enforcing the traffic laws on those roads. This includes making traffic stops and issuing warnings or citations, investigating crashes, and assisting motorists. There are currently 2 full-time Deputies assigned to this unit. The unit uses semi-marked patrol cars and also have the latest in radar and laser speed detection technology, mobile camera equipment, and mobile computers.

The officers of the Youth Services Unit (YSU) believe that the youth of today are our most valuable resource and an essential element in our future. Unfortunately, statistics indicate a growing involvement in criminal activities by juveniles, either as victims or perpetrators. This unique segment of our society demands a delicate balance of strategies to effectively, efficiently and professionally protect our youth, provide guidance and counseling or, finally, to prosecute them.

The goal of the Youth Services Unit is to gain a better understanding of the experience of youth in the area, to help them find their place so that they have a positive impact on the community, and to advocate on their behalf. To achieve the desired results, there must be a cohesive effort by family, schools, social service agencies, and law enforcement agencies.

The unit believes education is the key to a better future for our youth and focuses on programs that prevent the youth of Isabella County from getting into trouble. These programs are designed to maximize interaction between the officers in the unit and the youth in the county.

The officers of YSU believe each of the following to be a part of their overall mission:

• Coordinate investigation of all youth criminal activity in Isabella County.
• Use all available resources to carry out their programs.
• Gather and share information with other agencies involved with youth.
• Assist other officers investigating youth criminal activity.
• Introduce intervention and interaction techniques to those dealing with youth problems.
• Act as liaison between law enforcement agencies and area schools.
• Keep law enforcement agencies informed regarding changes in juvenile laws.
• Keep abreast of youth culture updates on fads, dress, music, and other trends, sharing this information with those dealing with youth problems.
• Focus on crime prevention techniques.
• Develop and implement youth safety programs.
• Identify and analyze potential problem areas.
• Identify "high-risk" youth and develop intervention strategies.

The unit is very proactive with youth activity, not only in the schools, but throughout the county, and activities in and out of school surroundings. Other activities of the unit include running surveillance on juveniles, running alcohol and tobacco sting operations, assisting uniformed officers in follow-ups on juvenile complaints and working as a liaison between the court system and the schools.

The Youth Services Unit is also involved in National Night Out, Youth Police Academy, Shop-With-A Cop and the School Violence Task Force.