Traffic and Investigation

Sgt. Troy Woodwyk
701 Ball Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
General Information: (616) 632-6100

The Traffic Unit is responsible for the investigation of every fatal and serious personal injury traffic accident reported to the Kent County Sheriff Department. In addition to accident investigations, this unit takes a pro-active approach to traffic education and enforcement primarily in residential neighborhoods.

The Traffic Unit has several pieces of equipment to assist in monitoring and educating the motoring public.

The Speed Board is a speed monitoring device mounted on a trailer with a large digital display indicating the speed of passing vehicles. This device is frequently used as a part of the Traffic Unit’s effort to raise awareness and inform drivers of their speed. The Speed Board is usually placed in response to a citizen complaint of speeding vehicles.

The Traffic Counter is a meter box with air tubes stretching across the roadway that counts the number of vehicles and their speed as they pass by. The Traffic Unit uses this device to monitor traffic patterns and uses the information to determine engineering and special enforcement initiatives to maintain the safe travel on the streets.

The Traffic Unit currently has eight Harley Davidson Police Motorcycles. The motorcycle officers are responsible for traffic enforcement between March 15th and November 15th. The Motor Unit is very effective in monitoring and enforcing traffic laws within the residential areas of Kent County. The Motor Unit also participates in special events and assists the Secret Service with VIP motorcades.

Currently we have three Deputies and one Sergeant in the Traffic Unit. These deputies and their equipment are funded by Michigan Public Act 416, a state grant designed to make our streets and secondary roads safer to travel.