Cops bring basics from the beat to business expo

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

STERLING HEIGHTS — Everything from retail fraud to fake personal checks to identity theft can affect a business’s bottom line, and local police want to make sure owners and managers protect themselves.

The police departments of Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and Utica, along with the Sterling Heights-Utica-Shelby Township Chamber of Commerce are hosting the second annual Safe, Secure and Smart Business Expo Oct. 22 to make sure those affiliated with the business world learn how to protect themselves from the aforementioned problems and more.

Patty Le Duc, membership services director for the chamber, said they were approached a few years ago by the Shelby Township Police Department to help get the word out to businesses about those topics, “so the local business owners can get an idea of what they’re up against,” she said.

She said, in the past, they’ve had about 70 to 80 businesses interested. The expo will also include topics like workplace violence, Black Friday strategies, medical emergencies and how to check employees’ criminal past.

“We try to shed some insight into some of the trends that we are starting to see regarding different crimes involving the businesses,” said Detective Sgt. David Faber of the Utica Police Department. “We’ve got a little bit of experience and we’d just like to share that with them.”

The expo will feature officers from all three police departments, a member of the fraud department of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, a local judge and a representative from CARE to talk about workplace violence.

“It will give them an opportunity to learn about some of the … things that go on in the public,” Le Duc said. “How sneaky people are and how they can learn the difference between a (real) check and a counterfeit check. What you have to do if you catch a shoplifter.

“It gives you a lot of tips on handling the public.”

Faber said they’d also take questions from the business community and try to assist them in any way they can with any of their problems.

“It’s just a way for the businesses and the police departments to just put our heads together and correct any problems that may be going on out there,” he said.

The Safe, Secure and Smart Business Expo is from 8-10:30 a.m. Oct. 22 at Ike’s Restaurant, 38550 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights. There is no cost to attend, and a continental breakfast will be served. Register or get more information by calling the Chamber of Commerce at (586) 731-5400, or visit www.suscc.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.