Community Programs
Mandy FordCommunity Outreach Director Tel. 248.858.1947 |
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sheriff's Re-CYCLE For Kids
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office continues to collect bicycles (new, used, or in need of repair), bike accessories, tools, and parts for the Sheriff's Re-CYCLE for Kids program, which began in 2006. The Sheriff's Re-CYCLE for Kids relies of private partners like Dan Gutfreund Realty Group, 1-800-Self-Storage.com, and others to strengthen and grow the program. Additionally, a robust volunteer operation now assists with the work of refurbishing and repairing the donated bikes on an as-needed basis. The recycled bikes are distributed to families in need at events and by appointment. One of the few safe recreational, outdoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic is bicycling so the Sheriff's Office was thrilled to be able to accommodate this growing need, especially during 2020's bicycle shortage.
In 2021, Sheriff's Re-CYCLE for Kids held a large-scale bike distribution event in the parking lot of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and gave out approximately 500 bicycles in partnership with the Attendance Heroes project, an effort to reward kids attending school in the Pontiac School District who have perfect or near perfect attendance in school. UWM' underwriting team has, for the past several years, supported the Attendance Heroes project by raising money and purchasing new bicycles for these deserving kids. Program partners like Ascension Health, Sheriff PAL, and the Oakland County Health Division, provide helmets, volunteers, and bike locks as well.
To learn more about the project, or to volunteer or support it, please contact Community Liaison, Mandy Ford, at 248-858-1947, or fordal@oakgov.com.
To donate a bicycle (new or used), they may be dropped off at any of the Sheriff's Office locations in Oakland County, or at the 1-800-Self-Storage locations in Troy or Oak Park.
ALL SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROGRAMS
For the past 10 years, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has provided gifts and support to a soldier’s family in need around the holidays as part of the Adopt a Veteran’s family effort. The Sheriff’s Office is proud to assist these families, referred by Oakland County Veterans’ Services, and give back to those who have given so much through their service to our country.
Each year before Halloween night, the Deputies for Kids organization and the Sheriff’s Office host the Angel’s Night Fun Fest in Pontiac’s Aaron Perry Park. Angel’s Night is a trunk or treat style event which provides kids from Pontiac a safe and exciting opportunity to collect candy while having family fun in costume. Thousands of participants come out each year to enjoy the festivities and entertainment and this is one more way the Sheriff’s Office engages with the community in a positive way.Save
Attendance Heroes is a Sheriff’s Office program partnership with United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and the Pontiac School District designed to encourage kids to strive for perfect attendance throughout the school year. UWM internally raises enough funds to purchase a brand-new bicycle for any elementary age student in the Pontiac School District who achieves perfect or near perfect attendance throughout the school year. This is just one more way the Sheriff is striving to encourage young people to reach their full potential.
The Sheriff’s Office collects new and gently used stuffed animals as part of its Bears on Patrol program. These warm and fuzzy friends are one way to ease the fears of young children who are caught in difficult situations, often bringing a sense of security to a child who is overcome with anxiety. Many area service groups and individuals have generously donated teddy bears and other stuffed animals for this program.
The Sheriff’s Office Cadet Unit is comprised of aspiring young adults ranging in age from 16 to 21 years old interested in law enforcement as a career. They operate in a volunteer capacity for community events such as parades, festivals, and football games throughout the county.
Oakland County Sheriff Cadets participate in specialized training details and have one-on-one experiences with different law enforcement professionals and special units with the Sheriff’s Office. The Cadet Program provides top-tier learning opportunities and experiences for its participants while creating lasting relationships with active law enforcement professionals.
Internet Safety presentations are given to student, parent, and other interested groups by the Sheriff and his Computer Crimes Unit in an effort to educate children and parents on the dangers of internet predators and other unsafe online behaviors.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard is announcing the 37th year of the Coats for the Cold Coat Drive. The Coat Drive will run from November 1-30, 2025.
The Coats for the Cold Coat Drive is sponsored by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with 1-800-Self-Storage.com, Real Estate One/Max Broock Realtors, McKenzie Movers, Genisys Credit Union, and many other community organizations around Oakland County. 1-800-Self-Storage.com, is providing the boxes for coat drop-off sites around the county. Local Real Estate One and Max Broock Realtors offices, and all of the Genisys Credit Union branches throughout Oakland County served as drop-off sites also. We are grateful to all of our partners for their support!
"Coats for the Cold is an easy way for the community to reach out and help someone less fortunate stay warm this winter," Sheriff Bouchard said. "For the past 37 years, we have worked with local charitable organizations to provide free coats to those in need. The community's generosity has been wonderful every year."
There are volunteer opportunities available for individuals wishing to help with the coat drive this year. To sign up, please go to the short google form link.
The new or clean, used coats collected during the month of November will be given to numerous different charitable organizations who will then distribute the coats to those most in need at no cost.
If you would like to become a drop-off site or volunteer for Coats for the Cold, please contact Mandy Ford at fordal@oakgov.com or sign up to become a drop-off site here
Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard has been hosting “Coffee with the Sheriff” events since 2014 around Oakland County in an effort to reduce barriers with Oakland County residents and allow for meaningful conversations with the public. Typically held at grocery stores or cafes, these casual and friendly events give an opportunity to relationship build with the community and bring police and residents closer together.
The Sheriff’s Office is proud to participate in many holiday and community parades in the county which are enjoyed by children and adults alike. The public has come to know the Sheriff’s Office through these positive interactions.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Cops & Cribs Program Crib Distribution
Thursday, October 10, 2024
10am – 12pm or 12pm – 2pm
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Pontiac Substation
110 E. Pike Street • Pontiac
Free Pack N Plays to Oakland County expectant or new mothers in need in conjunction with Safe Sleep Awareness Month in October.
Oakland County residents that are in need of a crib for theirinfant, please register for one of the times listed on the sign-up. There will be a short presentation given by the Oakland County Health Division on safe sleep practices for infants prior toreceiving the crib.
This program is supported by Christ Church Cranbrook.
Printable Cops & Cribs Program Flyer
About the Cops N Cribs Program
The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Oakland County Health Division, announced the Cops-n-Cribs program in late 2015, in an effort to provide free, portable cribs to families in need of providing a safe sleep environment to an infant. Nationally, approximately 2,300 infants die annually from Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) causes. It is estimated that half of these deaths result from unsafe sleeping environments, such as soft bedding, sharing beds, or sleeping in accident prone positions. Sleep-related causes of infant death can be prevented by following safe sleep guidelines. Providing a crib to a family who needs one may save an infant’s life. The Sheriff’s Office is a partner with the national Cribs for Kids organization and can purchase cribs at a reduced price for this program.
The Sheriff’s Office has been teaming up with local document shredding companies since 2004 to offer confidential document shredding to record numbers of Oakland County residents at no extra cost. The Sheriff’s Office has recently partnered with the Oakland County Parks and Vibe Credit Union due to the program’s great success. More than 600 cars came through the document shredding line at the Oakland County Farmer’s Market parking lot line over the course of the two shredding dates.
You can click on our Community Services page to learn about upcoming Document Shredding Events.
For 15 years, Sheriff Bouchard and the Easter Bunny have paid visits to area hospitals’ pediatric wards to brighten the day of children who are ill and may not be home for the Easter Bunny’s visit. Unfortunately, the hospital visits in 2020 were cancelled due to safety restrictions at area hospitals. Hopefully, this wonderful event will continue in the future and we will have the opportunity to brighten Easter for the kids.
Launched in 2016, the Lock-It-Up Oakland program aims to reduce the threat of accidental deaths and crimes committed with stolen firearms, while building public awareness of the benefit of safe firearm storage practices. Through this initiative, the Sheriff's Office, the County Board of Commissioners, and several local law enforcement agencies have worked together to distribute approximately 5000 free gun locks a year. Prior to this, the Sheriff's Office has been giving out gun locks for over 20 years.
In 2018, the Sheriff’s Office launched the Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) program in response to the opioid crisis. This program allows those who are incarcerated in the Oakland County Jail to be screened for opioid addiction and put into programming for recovery. This comprehensive program and includes treatment, education, peer support coaching, and a plan for treatment and recovery post-release.
In 2020, the Sheriff’s Office embarked upon a new project, providing some holiday cheer to children staying at Mandy’s Place on Christmas morning. Mandy’s Place is located on Oakland County’s campus and provides short-term housing for children ages 0-18 who have been removed from their homes by the court due to neglect, abuse and status offenses.
Sheriff’s Office personnel worked closely with Mandy’s Place supervisors to ascertain the needs and wishes of the kids staying there. We do our very best to bring a little joy to them on what might otherwise be a lonely Christmas morning.This project was created by former Oakland County Prosecutor Prosecutor Jessica Cooper and was adopted by the Sheriff in 2020.
The Sheriff launched Operation Medicine Cabinet™ (OMC) in 2009 as a mechanism to address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, as well as the negative environmental impact of prescription drugs getting into our water system. OMC is a prescription drug disposal program authorized by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The program serves to keep drugs out of the hands of illicit users by allowing individuals to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs in an environmentally safe manner. The total number of law enforcement drop-off sites in Oakland County to is now at 37. OMC is supported by the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (ACHC), the drug abuse prevention community, various private companies, environmental groups, and the senior and health care communities.
Operation Medicine Cabinet™ illustrates our commitment to keeping all of our citizens safer, protecting our young people from the harmful misuse of prescription drugs, understanding the needs of seniors, and the environmental implications related to improper disposal of medications (flushing). The program has received overwhelming support from the community, other law enforcement agencies, environmental groups, senior and youth advocacy groups, the media, and the list goes on and on.
Download a prescription drug abuse prevention toolkit.
You can now drop off any prescription drugs at any of the convenient drop off points with 'no questions asked.'
Thanks to our supporters Genisys Credit Union, the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, and the Oakland County Health Division for partnering with us to provide this important community service.
We as law enforcement agents have been authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to provide this service. This program is not for commercial use.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is proud to sponsor Operation Medicine Cabinet™ (OMC). OMC was launched at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2009. It provides citizens a venue to properly dispose of their expired and/or unused prescriptions anonymously at several different locations around Oakland County. Currently, there are thirty-seven OMC drop-off sites, including thirteen Sheriff’s Office locations and twenty-four additional law enforcement locations around Oakland County, including:
Dropoff Sites and Hours of Collections
Select the following locations for maps/detailed contact information:
- Addison Township Substation - by appointment only
- Brandon Township Substation - 24/7-must call for assistance after regular business hours
- Commerce Township Substation - Wednesdays from 8 am-4 pm or by appt.
- Highland Township Substation - Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm or by appt.
- Independence Township Substation - Monday through Friday 7:30 am-4:30 pm or by appt.
- Lyon Township Substation - Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm or by appt.
- Oakland Township Substation - Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm or by appt.
- Orion Township Substation - Monday through Friday 8:30 am-4:00 pm
- Oxford Township Substation - Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
- Rochester Hills Substation - Monday through Friday 7:00 am-6:00 pm
- Pontiac Substation - Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Springfield Township Substation - by appointment only
Other Agencies Collection Sites and Hours
- Auburn Hills Police Department - 24/7
- Beverly Hills Department of Public Safety - 24/7
- Birmingham Police Department - 24/7
- Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety - 24/7
- Bloomfield Township Police Department - 24/7
- Clawson Police Department - Thursday from 4:00pm-6:00pm or by appt.
- Farmington Hills Police Department - 24/7
- Ferndale Police Department - 24/7
- Franklin Police Department - Monday through Friday from 9:00 am-5:00 pm or by appt.
- Hazel Park Police Department - 24/7
- Holly Police Department - 24/7
- Huntington Woods Department of Public Safety - Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5:00 pm
- Keego Harbor Police Department - Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am-2:00 pm or by appt.
- Madison Heights Police Department - 24/7
- Oak Park Department of Public Safety - 24/7
- Orchard Lake Police Department - Monday-Friday from 8AM-4PM, except Holidays
- Oxford Village Police Department - 24/7
- Rochester Police Department - 24/7
- Royal Oak Police Department - 24/7
- South Lyon Police Department - 24/7
- Troy Police Department - Monday through Friday 7:00 am-10 am, Sat & Sun. 8:00 am-4:00 pm
- West Bloomfield Township Police Department - 24/7
- White Lake Police Department - 24/7
- Wixom Police Department - 24/7
Turn-in Procedure for Oakland County Residents
When residents come to an Operation Medicine Cabinet Prescription Medication Drop-Off site, a desk officer or Deputy will make a visual observation of the contents to determine if they are within program guidelines, which include:
- Prescription drugs only
- No needles
- All liquids must be tightly sealed.
- All other drugs must be in sealed containers -- No loose pills! (Zippered plastic bags are acceptable.)
Launched in 2018, the Rides to Recovery program is available to anyone asking to be taken to any type of substance abuse treatment. In a partnership with the Oakland County Health Network (OCHN), those who ask to be taken to treatment will be transported for addiction programming immediately.
The Sheriff’s Office 911 Emergency Senior Cell Phone Program is designed to equip any senior citizen with a mobile device free of charge. The cell phones can contact help in the event of an emergency. Since the program’s inception in 2002, the Sheriff’s Office has provided thousands of free 911 cell phones to Oakland County senior citizens through the simple recycling of older mobile phones. The phones are distributed at the Sheriff’s Main Office every Friday morning from 9 a.m. – noon.
The Sheriff PAL (Police Athletic League) Program is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard in 2015. Sheriff PAL is a dynamic collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, the Oakland County Health Division, the Healthy Pontiac, We Can! Coalition, Oakland University, Woodside Bible Church and Dream Center of Pontiac, the city of Pontiac, and Pontiac Schools. The Sheriff PAL Program aims to create a safe environment and a structure where law enforcement and community partners empower young people to reach their full potential through athletics, mentoring, and other programs. All sports, recreation, and mentor programs offered by Sheriff PAL are provided free of charge to families and children. Please visit sheriffpal.com for more information.
RELATED LINKS
The Sheriff’s Office sponsors an annual Soak n’ Summer event with the Oakland County Parks. Over 220 kids from Pontiac, Auburn Hills Boys and Girls Club, and various Pontiac-based churches and youth groups typically participate in the event at the Waterford Oaks Water Park. Sponsors of the event included Vibe Credit Union and Meijer.
Each December, during the holiday season, the Sheriff’s Office partners with local big box retailers Meijer and Walmart, and local youth groups to identify kids and families in need who may benefit from a little extra help at Christmas time. Deputies assist children who are identified as “in need” and help them shop for holiday gifts for their loved ones with gift cards provided by the retailers. Shop with a Cop gives kids a chance to see police officers for who they are – parents or spouses, and most importantly, people who care about them and work to keep the community safe.
Over 3,000 drivers aged 16 to 21 die annually in the United States as a result of motor vehicle crashes. To address this young driver safety issue, the STOPPED (Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers) program was implemented. STOPPED is a voluntary parental notification system which allows parents to register online or through the mail. Once registered, parents are provided with a STOPPED sticker to place in the windshield of any vehicle driven by their young driver. If the driver of the registered vehicle is stopped for any reason, regardless of whether a ticket is issued, the parent would receive notification of the stop. Developed by the Michigan Sheriff’s Association, and sponsored by State Farm Insurance, STOPPED is designed to reduce the number of young drivers who are injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes each year and promote safe driving.
Student of the Month is a program that incentivizes students to excel in their studies. While serving as the Chairman of the Education Committee in the Michigan State Senate, Sheriff Bouchard started this program to recognize young people for doing well in school. The Sheriff now partners with the Detroit Pistons to offer free game tickets to honorees with the purchase of an adult ticket. Hundreds of Oakland County schools and thousands of students have enjoyed this program over the years.
Treats for Troops is a post Halloween candy drive coordinated to send thanks, notes of encouragement, and sweets to our troops overseas. The Sheriff’s Office partners with organizations such as Troops Need Love Too, Michigan Military Moms, and the Desert Angels to make sure the candy and notes of encouragement are shipped out. Treats for Troops is a great way parents can participate in a community service project with their kids while showing our troops we support them back home.
The U-Turn program is a partnership between Oakland County Youth Assistance and the Sheriff’s Office. Its intent is to educate youth and their parents about the consequences of crime and the realities of prison life. The program reinforces the value of making smart decisions such as staying in school, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and making wise choices regarding peers, employment, and parental involvement. This reduces a youth’s chance of having further contact with the juvenile justice system. Modeled after the “Scared Straight” program, U-Turn provides youth and their parents with an opportunity to tour the Oakland County Jail and facilities. The program also has the children speak face-to-face with Deputies and selected inmates concerning the repercussions of their behavior.
The Sheriff’s Office, Variety Feeds Kids, and Meijer Stores formed a partnership in 2014 to feed thousands of children who are on the free and reduced lunch program in the Pontiac school district. The Sheriff’s Office and Variety Feeds Kids distributed close to 1,600 meals weekly to children at four Pontiac elementary schools: Alcott, Herrington, Whitman, and ITA (International Technology Academy). The goal is to grow the program to provide meals at every elementary school in the district. In 2020, when schools moved to a virtual environment, Variety Feeds Kids provided meal services to families with young children through a pick-up program. In 2021, VFK provided 500 Thanksgiving meals to Pontiac schools families as well as snacks in the schools.