Public Safety Departments Unite for Safe Dream Cruise

Police and public safety departments from around Metro Detroit will patrol Woodward this week on foot, bicycles, motorcycles and in vehicles for the Dream Cruise while a team of amateur radio operators will provide additional eyes and ears for law enforcement officials along the 16-mile route. 

In addition to the Woodward Avenue communities, law enforcement officers from around the area and the Oakland County Sheriff's Department come in to support the effort, especially as crowds swell during the week to the anticipated 1 million or more expected on Dream Cruise Saturday.

Law enforcement agencies along Woodward are united.

All Dream Cruise public safety operations are coordinated by Royal Oak police, Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison said, and a command station is set up at the Northwood Shopping Center at the southwest corner of 13 Mile and Woodward. 

There are no vacation days allowed for Royal Oak police and fire workers this weekend, Ellison said. Royal Oak law enforcement will be out in cars, motorcycles and bikes and all public safety workers are on call.

Birmingham's Police Department will be out in force this weekend, too. There are 29 police officers in the Birmingham department as well as 12 auxiliary officers, and according to Cmdr. Terry Kiernan, everyone will be out working a 12-hour shift during the weekend of the Woodward Dream Cruise and .

Bloomfield Township police will have more officers than usual out on foot and bike patrol during the festivities. Officer Pete Matejcik said they'll be watching for disorderly conduct and open alcohol, which are common throughout Dream Cruise week.

The Dream Cruise does get assistance from the Oakland County Sheriff's Department and Michigan State Police, though not as much as in the past, Ellison said. "Everyone has budget problems these days," the Royal Oak mayor said.

However, many area officers and departments donate time and some see the hectic Woodward Dream Cruise as good training for new officers, Ellison said.

West Bloomfield Police Lt. Tim Diamond said his community sends as many officers as it can each year to help with the Dream Cruise. This year, Diamond said he plans to send three traffic enforcement officers on motorcycles to help with Saturday's crowds.

Clawson Police will send two officers and one patrol car to assist with the Dream Cruise on Friday and Saturday evenings, Clawson Police Chief Harry Anderson said. The officers will assist Royal Oak with traffic direction and crowd control near the corner of 13 Mile and Woodward for three hours each night. 

Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office are told they can work the Dream Cruise on overtime. It was unclear Tuesday how many had signed up.

Judy Davids, Laura Houser, Tim Rath, Jen Anesi, Kristin Bull, Nicquel Terry and Art Aisner contributed to this report.

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