Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton County Sheriff Josh Saaranen says while the number of calls across counties is increasing, mutual aid is straining law enforcement agencies.

HOUGHTON – Calls for police presence have been steadily increasing in the region over the past five years, and the increase is creating critical situations.

Keweenaw County Sheriff Kurt Pennala brought up that topic at the regular May meeting of the Keweenaw County Board, saying that while his department has experienced a 27% increase in call volume since 2021, his office has had the same number of deputies since 2001. Not only are they increasing, but the severity of the situations is becoming worse.

Currently, said Pennala, the Sheriff’s Department has six full-time deputies and one temporary position, that will expire in January.

“If we go back to a six-member staff, we’re probably going to have uncovered nights,” he said.

Typically, according to Pennala, if his deputies require assistance, the nearest backup is coming out of Houghton County, whether either Houghton County deputies, Hancock City Police or Houghton Police.

Houghton County Sheriff Joshua Saaranen said responding to requests for backup from neighboring agencies creates potential negative impacts on all agencies involved.

“It’s really a trickle-down affect,” Saaranen said. “Going to Keweenaw County could potentially be an hour away for our deputies to back them up.”

In considering the geographical size of Houghton County, said Saaranen, there are places that can require an hour for a response as well. Sending backup to Keweenaw County can take over an hour as well.

Saaranen said while law enforcement agencies in Baraga County have other agencies for mutual aid and potential backup, Keweenaw County has only one agency, the Sheriff’s Office. Michigan State Police Calumet Post can also face challenges sending backup, if they are supporting another agency.

“Troopers could be out on other calls,” Saaranen said. “MSP Calumet Post covers Keweenaw County, but they also cover Houghton and Baraga counties as well, so they could be anywhere in the three counties.”

That is part of the trickle-down affect, he said. In Houghton County, his department also also relies on the troopers for backing those deputies up.

“If they’re in Keweenaw County, that lessens the amount of backup that we have in Houghton for dangerous complaints,” said Saaranen, “which happens quite frequently, including domestic complaints.”

Saaranen agrees with Pennala that while the number of calls is increasing, so is their severity, emphasizing domestic situation calls.

“Domestic situations are, unfortunately, frequent in all counties and areas, and we’re taught from a young age at the police academy that domestic calls are among the most dangerous situations to just walk into, because there are so many emotions involved,” Saaranen said. “You’re walking into houses where weapons are present, family members, small children and animals – we’re really taught not to go to domestic calls alone. We stress that. We push that on our deputies as well.”

Keweenaw County definitely needs more help, said Saaranen, particularly as his department has not seen significant growth in the past 20 years and human resources are stretched.

“What it come down to with that trickle-down affect,” said Saaranen, “is we end up backing somebody up in Keweenaw County if we get a call in Houghton County, not only does it take longer, but we have fewer resources to actually start responding.”