On Wednesday, March 20,
2013, the Meridian Township Police Department held its annual Awards Ceremony. The event recognized contributions made by community
members and Police Department personnel during the past year. In addition, the 2013 Officer of the Year was
awarded.
CITIZEN AWARDS:
Certificate of
Appreciation:
·
Tracey and Michelle Wellman were instrumental in locating
a missing person who was suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. They called the police after hearing cries
for help coming from outside their residence.
·
Betsy Bowers, Julie Stauffer and Summer Palmer are members
of the Meridian Police Departments Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. The program is designed to enhance the
delivery of police services while building effective partnerships within the
community. Each of these honorees
contributed their personal time throughout 2012 to assist the Police Records
Department with overflow duties.
·
Peyton Houghton, a nine-year old boy, took swift action to
assist his younger brother Cooper who was suffering from a medical
emergency. Peyton recognized the emergency, and summoned the
help of his parents. Peyton was
recognized for taking swift action and for his sense of guardianship for his
younger brother.
·
Crary Grattan was recognized for performing emergency CPR
and summoning the police for assistance for his neighbor.
·
Rachel Freeman organized bake sales at Okemos High School
and attracted matching funds to help fund the Mankowski Annual Holiday Party,
an event organized by Meridian Officer Gayelord Mankowski. Over the past two years, Ms. Freeman has been
instrumental in attracting over $6,000 to benefit this event.
POLICE PERSONNEL AWARDS:
Letter of
Appreciation:
·
Cadet Nicholas Wagner for volunteering his personal time
in order to improve the parking unit.
Cadet Wagner’s efforts and unselfish donation of his own personal time helped
local businesses and other property owners maintain a safe parking environment
for their visitors and assured greater access to handicap parking spaces for
motorists with a legitimate need.
·
Officer Judy Hood and Officer Dave Metts who responded to
a call of a vicitm down and not breathing.
Officers Hood and Metts took over CPR efforts being performed and helped
extend the victims life.
Certificate of Commendation:
·
Sergeant Andrew McCready was recognized for his
development of the Police Department’s successful social media efforts. Sergeant McCready is a respected expert in
this evolving field and is sought after as an instructor in law enforcement
training centers throughout Michigan.
Closer to home and throughout 2012, Sergeant McCready’s work with social
media in such platforms as Facebook, Twitter and Nixle has been instrumental in
the arrest of over 25 wanted persons.
Unit Citation for
Professional Excellence:
The following
personnel received awards for their role in an incident on August 23, 2012, involving
the arrest of a burglar who was targeting auto dealerships while on a statewide
crime spree. While attempting to
burglarize an automobile dealership on Jolly Road he fled the scene upon the
arrival of several Meridian officers.
Through the officers rapid response, immediate planning, and through
inter-agency cooperation with the Clinton County Sheriff Department, the
individual was located, arrested and crimes affecting numerous jurisdictions
throughout Michigan were solved.
Sergeant Bart Crane Unit Citation for Professional
Excellence
Officer Kyle Royston Unit Citation for Professional
Excellence
Officer Erin Linn Unit Citation for Professional
Excellence
Officer Kevin Harvey Unit Citation for Professional
Excellence
Officer Rebecca
Payne Unit Citation for Professional Excellence
Deputy John Vance Unit Citation for Professional
Excellence
(Clinton County
Sheriff Department K9 handler)
Officer of the Year
Award
Sergeant Brad Bach
has been a dedicated employee of the Meridian Township Police Department since
1995. He is a widely respected shift
supervisor whose professionalism and work ethic serve as an example to
others. Sergeant Bach has been praised
by the command staff for his leadership skills and self-initiating approach to
police work and his calm demeanor during even the most difficult of
circumstances. Throughout the years, he
has taken on various responsibilities in the Department. These responsibilities include his service as
a Patrol Officer, Investigator, Field Training Officer, Hostage Negotiator, as
both a Bicycle Officer and Bicycle Instructor, and currently as a Sergeant
commanding one of the Department’s road patrol shifts. In his personal life, Sergeant Bach serves as
a volunteer for both Lake Lansing Park and the Haslett Community School
District. In a Department full of outstanding
employees, Sergeant Bach stands among the finest. The Department was proud to recognize
Sergeant Brad Bach as the 2013 Officer of the Year.
