Pictured are Donna Webster- Foster Grandparents, Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt, Mike Haefner-Assoc. Pastor First Congregational Church of Greenville, and Doris Case- Montcalm County EMS Supervisor.

Underage drinkers, drunk drivers and other criminals in Montcalm County had better beware—police have a new tool in their arsenal to investigate and prosecute crime.

The Montcalm Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking and Montcalm County Prosecutor Andrea Krause recently donated funds to purchase and distribute 24 “Scorpion” personal video cameras that officers wear on their duty uniforms.

“The cameras are about the size of a thumb and record in High Definition video. Incidents of criminal investigations such as drunken driving arrests and underage drinking can all be recorded,” explained Howard City Police Chief Steve DeWitt.

The portable devices are then easily transferred to computers for courtroom presentations and evidence.

The 24 devices will equip approximately a third of the police officers in Montcalm County. Additional funding is being sought to continue to equip all of the Officers. If you are interested in funding additional camera units, please contact Chief DeWitt of the Howard City Police Department at 231 937-4311.

The Montcalm Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking is very active in the education of the public and students. They actively take steps to prevent the ready access of alcohol to minors and the adults who supply it. According to them, 28 percent of Montcalm County 11th graders have participated in binge drinking in the past 30 days. For more information, please visit www.mcpud.org.