Sheriff’s annual report

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk said car-deer collisions, drunken-driving arrests and the number of complaints investigated by the department in 2011 all increased from the year before.

During his annual report to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last month, Balk said the department in 2011 experienced an 11-year high with 65 arrests for motorists operating under the influence of liquor.

Car-deer accidents were at a 12-year high in 2011, as 902 incidents were reported, up from 796 in 2010.

Meanwhile, a total of 7,657 complaints were investigated in 2011, up from 7,493 the year before.

Balk, who is running unopposed in this year’s election for a second four-year term, said the department’s long-term needs will be new in-car video cameras and a few new boats for the department’s marine patrol.