Sumpter Township Police Department

Sumpter Township plans to ask voters in November for approval to raise the police millage from three mills to five mills. The proposal failed previously in an August primary election, and if it fails again, the police department faces a 41% cut to its operating budget, potentially risking closure. Officials note that additional funding is needed because calls for service have nearly doubled while the population has increased by about 25%.

Two children, ages 12 and 8, were found dead in a Sumpter Township garage containing a portable gas-powered generator. A third child, a 16-year-old, was also found dead near a generator in a basement on Saturday. The police department issued safety warnings about generator use and carbon monoxide detectors.