Conyers to Join President Obama in Honoring Detroit’s TOP COPS

(WASHINGTON) – This Saturday, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) will join President Obama at a White House ceremony honoring the National Association of Police Organizations’ (“NAPO”) TOP COPS award winners.  Since 1994, NAPO has conferred TOP COPS awards on law enforcement officers from around the country for performing actions above and beyond the call of duty during the preceding year.  Among this year’s award winners are 15 officers from the Detroit Police Department.  They earned this honor for stopping a gunman in January 2011 who suddenly attacked the officers upon entering their precinct station.      

               

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. at swearing in of
Hamtramck Police Chjief Maxwell Garbarino

“I’m proud to join President Obama in honoring these officers, who through a combination of training and personal courage, responded to a gunman who suddenly opened fire upon them within the safety  of their own precinct,” said Conyers.  “Although some were wounded, the officers stopped the assailant and no one but the gunman died that afternoon.  Our police officers work hard to protect us from harm, and we must do all we can to support them as part of a comprehensive effort to prevent crime. 

“That is why I have introduced H.R. 4098, ‘the Shield Our Streets Act’, to establish two new programs to supplement existing grants to help local governments in high crime areas hire more officers and fund public safety programs.  Police officers put their lives on the line to protect our cities and they deserve recognition for their willingness to sacrifice on our behalf.  But Congress also needs to do more to ensure that police officers, like those being honored, have all the tools necessary to get the job done and return home safely to their families.”

The names of this year’s TOP COPS honorees from the Detroit Police Department follow below.

Police Officer Melissa Adams

Police Officer David Anderson

Sergeant Marcellus A. Ball

Police Officer Bradley Clark

Police Officer Rodney Cushingberry

Commander Brian L. Davis

Sergeant Tyrone Guinn

Sergeant Michael Ingels

Police Officer Theodore Jackson, Jr.

Sergeant James Kirklin

Police Officer Lacell D. Rue

Sergeant Ray Toufic Saati

Sergeant Carrie Schulz

Investigator Amir G. Smith

Sergeant Joseph Turner, Jr.

For more information on the National Association of Police Organizations’ TOP COPS award follow this link.

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John Conyers at Hamtramck Swearing in of New Police and Fire Chiefs

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. at City of Hamtramck swearing in of Police Chief Max Garbarino and Fire Chief Paul Wilks by Judge Paul Paruk.  This is the first time in the City's history two chiefs were sworn in at the same time.

Hamtramck Police Chief Max Garbrino and Hamtramck Fire Chief Paul Wilks

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Hamtramck Police Chief Maxwell Garbrino

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and Hamtramck Fire Chief Paul Wilks

Former Hamtramck Police Chief Marek Kalinowski ceremoniously
handing over his badge to new Hamtramck Police Chief Maxwell Garbarino

U. S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. and
former Hamtramck Police Chief Marek Kalinowski

Hamtramck swears in new police, fire chiefs in packed ceremony

For what appears to be the first time in city history, Hamtramck’s new police chief and fire chief were sworn in together on Friday.

In front of a packed 31st District Courtroom at City Hall, which included family, friends, city officials and Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, Judge Paul Paruk asked police officer Max Garbarino and fire fighter Paul Wilk if they would honor a city that has seen much turmoil in the past two months.

Both men agreed, and to resounding applause, went from acting chiefs to serving chiefs.

“They’re all ready to get up and do what we gotta do to make things better,” said Wilk, looking at the city’s firefighters who were present at the swearing in.

The residents of Hamtramck have been taken aback in recent weeks by two high-profile crimes and revelations of the depth of the city’s financial stress.

On Feb. 28, friends Abreeya Brown and Ashley Conaway were kidnapped from Brown’s stepfather’s home on Andrus Street. The two were found March 25 in a shallow grave on Detroit’s west side. Five men, including Brian Lee, 25 and Brandon Cain, 26, have been charged with their murders.

On March 2, a man carjacked three women who were in town for a music festival and forced them to perform a sex act on him. Tonio Dace, 25, who was arrested after the carjacking, was charged with carjacking, kidnapping and sexual assault.

On March 7, the city council voted to fire City Manager Bill Cooper, after learning that city coffers were so bereft, city employees might not get paid. His successor, Erik Tungate, is facing personal legal troubles.

Garbarino, who is few weeks away from finishing a law degree, said the city’s financial situation is a source of concern. While trying to figure out how to manage possible funding issues, he said, they would put more emphasis on the city’s community policing program, in which residents help patrol and call in possible crimes.

But for a few minutes, Garbarino and Wilk were able to enjoy the time they spent with family and friends before resuming their jobs leading the city’s public safety. After receiving his chief’s badge from former chief Marek Kalinowski, Garbarino, 33, played with his son, while Wilk, 44, had photos taken with his fire crew.

“I’m trying not to cry,” said Donna Garbarino, who drove from Chesterfield Township to see her son become police chief. “Oh, I would have driven hours for this.”

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