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Farmington Hills Celebrates Police Promotions

(City of Farmington Hills, Nov. 1, 2017)

Farmington Hills,  MI -The recent retirement of Assistant Chief Matthew Koehn resulted in several promotions and the creation of a new Administrative Staff Assistant Chief position. The Administrative Staff Assistant Chief will be responsible for the introduction of several new technologies, Police Department Accreditation, and several other special projects. Assistant Chief Michael Ciaramitaro has been transferred into this newly created position.

 

Commander Daniel Rodriguez was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in the Operations Bureau. Assistant Chief Rodriguez is a 23-year veteran of the Department. He began as a police cadet and was promoted to police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, commander, and now assistant chief. His past assignments include patrol officer, Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force officer, South Oakland Narcotics Consortium investigator, patrol and Directed Patrol Unit supervisor, Administrative Bureau supervisor, and now the Operations Bureau. Assistant Chief Rodriguez has an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, and has begun studies for a Master’s Degree. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Commander Rodriguez also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1991 to 1998. Assistant Chief Rodriguez is the recipient of 36 citations and awards, including being recognized as the Farmington Hills Police Officer of the Year in 2001.

Commander Jeffrey King was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief in the Administrative Bureau. Assistant Chief King is a 22-year veteran of the Department. He began as a police cadet and was promoted to police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, commander, and now assistant chief. His past assignments include patrol officer, Traffic Safety Section officer, School Liaison officer, and Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Section, and Investigative Division supervisor, and now the Administrative Bureau. Assistant Chief King has an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, and has begun studies for a Master’s Degree. He is a graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command. Assistant Chief King is the recipient of 42 citations and awards, including being recognized as the Farmington Hills Police Officer of the Year in 2007

Lieutenant Bonnie Unruh was promoted to the rank of Commander in the Operations Bureau. Commander Unruh is a 28-year veteran of the Department. She began as a police cadet and was promoted to police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and now commander. Her past assignments include patrol officer, Crime Prevention Section officer, Investigative Division detective, and Patrol and Investigative Division supervisor, and now the Operations Bureau. Commander Unruh has an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, and a Master’s Degree. She is a graduate of the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command and is a Certified Professional Emergency Manager through the State of Michigan. Commander Unruh is the recipient of 51 citations and awards, including being recognized as the VFW Police Officer of the Year in 1991, the American Society of Industrial Security Police Officer of the Year in 1998, and the American Legion Police Officer of the Year in 2014.

Sergeant Richard Blendea was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Operations Bureau. Lieutenant Blendea is a 21-year veteran of the Department. He began as a police cadet and was promoted to police officer, sergeant and now lieutenant. His past assignments include patrol officer, Field Training Officer, Auto Theft Investigator, and Patrol and Directed Patrol Unit supervisor, and now the Patrol Division of Operations Bureau. Lieutenant Blendea has a Bachelor’s Degree. Lieutenant Blendea is the recipient of 37 citations and awards, including being recognized as the Help Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) Investigator of the Year for 2009.

Officer Mark Kelley was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Operations Bureau. Sergeant Kelley is a 16-year veteran of the Department. He began as a police cadet and was promoted to police officer and now sergeant. His past assignments include patrol officer, traffic investigator and training officer and now the Patrol Division of Operations Bureau. Sergeant Kelley has an Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree. Sergeant Kelley is the recipient of 10 citations and awards and was the National Patrol Rifle Iron Sight Champion in 2015.

Photo (left to right): City Manager Dave Boyer, Assistant Chief Daniel Rodriguez, Assistant Chief Jeff King, Commander Bonnie Unruh, Lieutenant Richard Blendea, Sergeant Mark Kelley and Chief Charles Nebus.