Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office
Spring Lake Township
Sgt. Jake MacKeller, Supervisor
Mission Statement
The mission of those serving Spring Lake Township as members of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office continues to be that of assisting the residents and visitors of Spring Lake Township in a mutual desire for a safe and secure community through our dedication and holding ourselves to the utmost highest standards in preserving and securing public order, supporting the constitution of the State of Michigan, and enforcing all laws and ordinances of our state, county, and township while protecting the lives, property and rights, of all people in a professional, courteous, and respectful manner.
General Information
In addition to members of the Sheriff’s Office who routinely patrol and serve Spring Lake Township and the surrounding area, Spring Lake Township has further enhanced policing efforts by contracting additional law enforcement services with the Sheriff’s Office.Deputy Johnson is the School Liaison Deputy to Spring Lake Public Schools under a partnership with Spring Lake Township. Deputy Johnson has an office located at the Spring Lake High School where he works with school staff and local youth. Deputy Johnson also heads up education programs such as TEAM (Teaching Educating and Mentoring) and Boaters Safety. Deputy Johnson is in charge of the Crime Free Multi-Housing program where he works closely with multi-housing managers in efforts to keep their communities safe.
Deputy Travis Schippers is the Enhanced Community Deputy for Spring Lake Township. “Enhanced” Community Policing differs from traditional community policing in that additional protection services are provided by the deputy. Deputy Schippers' position is a combination of law enforcement, fire protection, and EMT medical response. Deputy Schippers works with the Spring Lake Fire Department as a partnership and is a member of the Spring Lake Fire Department in his off duty time. Deputy Schippers works with Spring Lake Township Ordinance and Zoning on enforcement efforts and ordinance writing. Deputy Schippers is in charge of the property check program and works with area businesses.
Community Information
Ordinances
Spring Lake Township along with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office recommends residents familiarize themselves with the ordinances to be aware of the restrictions/rules of certain activities.Some of the most commonly inquired ordinances are as follows:
Barking Dogs
No person shall keep, harbor, or have charge of any dog which, by loud barking, howling or yelping has become a
nuisance in the vicinity where kept or harbored. A complaint regarding this subsection must be made by at least
two persons in separate households in the vicinity where the dog is kept or harbored.
Burning
Open burning is not permitted without a burning permit. Fires used for recreational purposes, such as
campfires, are permitted and not to exceed five feet in width. Recreational fires are limited to dry tree wood
which is not rotted or construction wood which is not treated
Except on the first Saturday in August each year (Coast Guard Festival), and except on the day preceding, the day of, and the day after a holiday, in accordance with state and federal laws and applicable township ordinances, a person shall not ignite, discharge, or use consumer fireworks. On the first Saturday in August each year, and the day preceding, the day of, and the day after a holiday, a person shall not ignite, discharge, or use consumer fireworks between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. A minor (person under 18 years of age) shall not possess, ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks.
Holiday means any of the following:
- New Year's Day, January 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January
- President's Day, the third Monday in February
- Memorial Day, the last Monday in May
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, the first Monday in September
- Columbus Day, the second Monday in October
- Veteran's Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
Noise
It shall be unlawful for any person to create, assist in creating, permit, or permit the continuation of any
unreasonably loud noise which annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety
of others within the limits of the township. No person shall conduct or permit any activity that produces a dBA
beyond the person's property line exceeding the sound pressure levels specified in the table in this section.
Where property is included within both residential and commercial areas, the residential sound levels shall be
used only for measurements made on the portion of the property used solely for residential purposes.
Limits in the following table are expressed in dBA:
| Area of Property Receiving the Sound | 7:00am -10:00pm | 10:00pm - 7:00am |
| Residential Area | 60 | 53 |
| Commercial Area | 65 | 58 |
| Industrial Area | 70 | 70 |
Solicitation Ordinance
Solicitation in Spring Lake Township requires a permit to be issued first by the township. Solicit and soliciting mean any act related to or involving traveling from place to place, from dwelling to dwelling, from street to street; or any act to remain stationary in any place and use public streets, sidewalks, parks, or other public ways or places; if the act is to: (a) sell or offer for sale or display for sale any merchandise to any person; or (b) take orders for the purchase of merchandise by samples, lists, catalogs, or subscriptions for magazines and books from any person; or (c) sell or offer for sale or take orders for the sale of services (e.g., landscaping, painting, roofing, snow removal, utility connection, or any other services to be performed or utilized for those who wish to purchase them); or (d) collect or commit to collect monies or property or other goods from persons.
Exempted parties are as follows:
- Any person age 18 or younger, soliciting for the benefit of any public or private school, or for youth
activities such as but not limited to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church youth groups, or youth athletic leagues,
shall be exempt from the license provisions of this chapter. Such persons shall, however, be subject to the
prohibitions and hours of operation.
- Any person engaged in canvassing, distributing printed material, or obtaining signatures for political
candidates, ballot issues, or other political issues shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this
chapter. Such persons shall, however, be subject to the prohibitions and hours of operation.
- Any veteran licensed with Ottawa County under Public Act No. 359 of 1921 (MCL 35.441 et seq.) shall be exempt
from the licensing requirements of this chapter. Such persons shall, however, be subject to the prohibitions and
hours of operation.
- Any person selling the products of the person's own farm, orchard, or garden shall be exempt from the
licensing requirements of this chapter. Such persons shall, however, be subject to the prohibitions and hours of
operation.
- Exemptions may be granted by the township board at its sole discretion, for specific reasons found by the
township board, subject to such reasonable conditions that the township board may prescribe.
- Nothing in this chapter shall exempt any person from the licensing requirements described in Public Act No. 51 of 1925 (MCL 445.371).
Other Ordinances
View the above Spring Lake Township Ordinances in full length and all other ordinances.
Township Services
Property Checks
Spring Lake Township, through its community police officer, provides free security checks to its citizens who will be away from their homes, businesses, or other facilities for a period of time. Deputies will periodically check the exterior of the premises. This service is offered to deter potential burglars and provides additional security while your premise is unoccupied.Sign up for Sheriff’s Office Home Security Check
Business Emergency Notification Form
Provide your business contact information on the Township's Business Emergency Notification Form.After completing the form, go to File > Save & Send > Send Using Email > Send as Attachment > Email to: tSchippers@miottawa.org.
Crime Free Multi-Housing
Managers of multi-housing communities (apartments, duplexes, manufactured home communities, etc.) are invited to take part in this program. Managers will be trained in strategies to help curb crime in their communities and will receive information on the incidents which have occurred in their communities through a direct monthly meeting with a deputy.Safety Programs
Spring Lake Township periodically offers classes to students and the public for classes like Boaters Safety. Please make contact with Deputy Jon Johnson for more information.SMART 911
Sign up for Smart911 and create your own
Safety Profile to give 9-1-1 valuable information about yourself, family members, your home, pets and even vehicles
that will automatically display on the 9-1-1 call taker's screen when you make an emergency call. It's private and
secure and you control what information is in your profile. These details can save valuable seconds or even minutes
during an emergency.
