Police officers receive very intense training at their respective police academy in conducting a thorough investigation. Then, upon arriving at their worksite, ongoing training and experience enhance the investigator's skill. Many investigations are solved through a crime scene investigation, neighborhood canvas, and interviews with witnesses, victims, and suspects.

But the fact that police officers can't be everywhere at once and may not see everything at a scene or talk to the appropriate people, may leave some facts of the case unknown.

This is where you, the citizen, can do your part in assisting your local police agency. You may have seen, heard, or even smelled something and not know it was pertinent to an investigation. A simple phone call or letter may give the investigator the break they need in solving the crime.

This photo shows Michigan State Police Trooper Jeremy Cleary confiscating (20) marijuana plants. The tip came from a citizen who was scouting for a deer stand.

A Niles City Police Department report of a missing person was recently solved when two fisherman saw what they believed to be a vehicle in the river. This tip solved a 15 year old case.

Be a responsible citizen and do your part for your community and report situations to the police. Crime prevention is everyone's job.