Officers, citizens and employees who go above and beyond were the reasons for celebration at the Village Appreciation Dinner last week.
‘The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy,? said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh at the event.
Narsh, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, presented numerous awards to officers, dispatchers and citizens whose actions and accomplishments in 2007 rose to a level of Citation and Recognition.
‘We are mostly creatures of habit, we come and go to work, home and do errands in familiar routes and patterns in life,? Narsh said. ‘When a citizens gets involved to become a witness and report a crime in progress, or actually intercedes to prevent injury or harm to another, they have ventured well outside their comfort zone, they have involved themselves into the well being of the whole community.?
Several local citizens were honored with citations at the event for a wide variety of actions.
Robert and Donna Reighard allowed the use of their residence for training of officers in realistic, situational training.
General Motors Orion Assembly Plant Manager Pamela Mader secured a donation of $24,000.00 to the Lake Orion Police 911 Center for much needed replacement of voice recording equipment.
Chuck Bilczenski, Karol Farrington, Monica Spears (all of Lake Orion) and Laurence and Robinelle Hill (of Oxford) interceded in a very violent physical assault on an eleven-year-old child by an adult male (her father), in plain view, in the parking lot of Walgreen’s Drugs. According to Narsh, the father was prosecuted for Child Abuse and is currently incarcerated.
Christopher Castro assisted the LOPD by witnessing a traffic crash and watched as the underage occupants of one of the involved vehicles removed alcohol from the vehicle before police arrived. The information provided also implicated a local gas station and clerk in the selling of alcohol to minors, Narsh said.
Narsh also recognized the work of his department, noting the Reserve Officer Unit donated 4,985 police patrol hours to the community last year, a 48-percent increase from 2006.
‘They sacrifice their lives,? he said. ‘I applaud our reserve officers. It’s the volunteer spirit that makes the village work.?
Recognized with Outstanding Service Awards (200 hours or more) were Derek August, 200 hours; Raymond Truesdell, 204.5; Jonathon Green, 206.5; Rachel Truesdell, 219.5; Timothy Reetz, 260; John Schmitt, 275; George Grech, 297; David Mirku, 301; Stephen Bauer, 304.5; Joseph Sare III, 327; Amy Fong-Kretzmer, 352; Matthew Kirk, 370.5; and Reed Brown, 377.5.
In addition to the reserve officers being recognized, Narsh also presented Years of Service Awards to Reserve Officer Jeanne Debruyn, 5 years; Reserve Officer Zonnie Fritsche, Jr., 5; 911 Dispatcher Corrine Salmons, 5; Lieutenant Harold D. Rossman, Jr., 20; and Reserve Commander David F. Mirku; 30.
Receiving Retirement Awards were Reserve Sergeant Robert Reetz, 8 years, and
Officer David Churchill, 13 years, who received his gold retirement badge award.
Several department citations were issued for members of the LOPD who went beyond their call of service.
911 Dispatchers Corrine Salmons and Joanna Ingoglia were recognized for voluntarily painting the interiors of the 911 Center and the police department, at their own time and expense.
Reserve Sergeants Amy Fong-Kretzmer and Stephen Bauer were awarded citations for receiving national recognition for the LOPD Kids & Kops Program, which operates out of, and in conjunction, with the Orion/Oxford Boys & Girls Club.
According to Narsh, a $20,000 national award was presented to both officers last December in Washington, D.C., by the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance at the Law Enforcement & Partnership for Youth Conference in recognition of their program.
The Kids & Kops Program involves off-duty volunteer officers in the lives of Orion Area youth for positive interaction.
Narsh recognized, as well as noted it didn’t mean he was allowed to retire, the 30 years of volunteer service Reserve Commander David F. Mirku has given to the Lake Orion Police Department.
According to Narsh, Mirku has worked all facets of Reserve Police Officer work, working through the ranks to become the Commander of the Unit, where he directs, plans, schedules and guides the complete mission of the Reserve Officer Unit, all without any compensation.
Officer Todd Stanfield received a citation for identifying and arresting a Larceny from Auto crew made up of young adults in the Orion area who had been breaking into cars throughout the area. The investigation resulted in arrests and the recovery of valuable stolen property.
Stanfield was also recognized for his investigation and assistance in the prosecution of a Child Sexual Predator for the assault on four children, ages 11-14, obtaining eight counts of sexual assault. His investigation and work was exemplary and resulted in no children needing to take a witness stand to provide testimony, Narsh said, noting the investigation has removed a dangerous child predator from the Orion community.
Officer Robert Barker received a citation for the investigation of a disorderly person at a bank, which resulted in the arrest and prosecution for fraud and possession of stolen vending machine keys, equipment and cash, as well as possession of narcotics. His investigation led to the recovery of thousands of dollars in stolen cash and equipment.
Narsh recognized his second-in-command, Lieutenant Harold D. Rossman, Jr., for saving a life. Last July, Rossman responded to a local resturaunt and discovered a man not breathing and having no pulse. He summoned fire department and ambulance personnel and, while waiting, began CPR, reviving the man, who is alive today. According to Narsh, Rossman did this all in the presence of the man’s daughters who had taken their father out for lunch.
In addition to the police department awards, Village Council President Robert Reetz recognized Clerk Arlene Nichols for outstanding dedication and service as acting Village manager from Dec. 2007 to April 2008. Nichols filled that position while also maintaining her duties as clerk.
Reetz also recognized Treasurer Jan Adams for her ‘quick and effective? negotiation of a union labor agreement between the village and the police department.