Hazel Park Police Get Honors
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 3, 2014)
Sometimes being a police officer can feel like a thankless job, but in Hazel Park city leaders want to make sure those who protect and serve are recognized for their work. Last week they gathered at Kick Ass Sports Bar in Warren to hand out awards. They also ate cake and basked in the warm and fuzzy feelings of the community coming together.
Two civilians were also honored for their bravery and quick-thinking. J. Raymon was given a Civilian Award for notifying police about robbery in progress at the Dollar Store, and Jaden Kanka was given a Civilian Award for escaping his home and calling police during a home invasion.
Police Chief Martin Barner was awarded a Certificate of Merit. Barner has been with the Hazel Park Police since 1994, working his way up from a road patrol officer to several different levels of detective and lieutenant. He was also an inaugural member of the Crime Suppression Task Force.
The following other awards were also issued:
Jason Pence – 1 Unit Commendation & 15 year Safe Driving Award
Kyle Hebert – 1 Unit Commendation & 1 Departmental Citation
Stanley Williams – 4 Unit Commendations, 1 Departmental Citation, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Joseph Lowry – 3 Units Commendations, 1 Departmental Citation, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Jason Clark – 3 Unit Commendations & 15 year Safe Driving Award
Det. Sean Boucher – 2 Unit Commendations, 2 Individual Citations, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Sgt. Suzanne Strautz – 3 Unit Commendations & 10 year Safe Driving Award
Lt. William Hamel – 1 Unit Commendation & 5 year Safe Driving Award
Sgt. Johnny Colley – 4 Unit Commendations, 1 Life Saving Award, 15 year Safe Driving Award
Lt. Brian Buchholz – 5 year Safe Driving Award
Sgt. Paul Holka – 1 Unit Commendation & 5 year Safe Driving Award
Lt. Jason Weimer – 1 Unit Commendation & 15 year Safe Driving Award
Det. Michael Grigsby – 5 Unit Commendations, 1 Certificate of Merit, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Det. Xavier Piper – 3 Unit Commendations & 5 year Safe Driving Award
Disp. Brian Forrester – 4 Unit Commendations
David Vroman – 3 Unit Commendations, 1 Certificate of Merit, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Michael Kasdorf – 3 Unit Commendations, 1 Departmental Citation, 5 year Safe Driving Award
Joseph Gentilia – 1 Unit Commendation
Chad Jackson – 1 Unit Commendation
K-9 Brian Strick – 4 Unit Commendations & 1 Certificate of Merit
Det. Janeen Gielniak – 2 Unit Commendations
Raymond Donofrio – 2 Unit Commendations
Michael Emmi – 4 Unit Commendations, 1 Departmental Citation, 10 year Safe Driving Award
Anton Locher – 4 Unit Commendations & 5 year Safe Driving Award
Matthew Viviano – 1 Unit Commendation
Disp. Deborah Taylor – 1 Individual Citation
Ryan Zook – 3 Unit Commendations & 5 year Safe Driving Award
Kyle Deur – 1 Unit Commendation
Auxiliary Command Officer of The Year – Lt. Brian Forrester
Auxiliary Officer of The Year – Ofc. Randi Olsen
Safe Driving Awards –
Capt. James Wild
Sgt. Michael Craft
Sgt. Wallace Crouch
Ofc. Duc Dang
Sgt. Steven Glenn
Ofc. Mechelle Grace
Lt. Brian Forrester
Sgt. Randy Jordan
Ofc. Ryan Redlawsk
Sgt. Joseph Roeder
Lt. James Vowell
Sgt. Peter Wargo
Sgt. Robert Williams (Chaplain)
Special recognition was also given to the Bike Patrol Officers and the Motorcycle Unit.
For more information on the Hazel Park Police, visit their website at http://www.hazelparkpd.us/about/Pages/default.aspx.