More than 40 attendees packed the Allen Park City Council chambers the evening of July 28, with many people in attendance to witness the promotion of three city police officers, as well as the recognition of newly installed Police Chief Christopher Egan.
Meeting violated governor’s six-foot mandate
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – As residents packed the July 28 City Council meeting to honor the city’s new police chief and three promoted officers, the gathering likely violated the state’s six-foot social distancing mandate.
The indoor meeting was likely in compliance with the 50-person limit, which was in effect until 12:01 a.m. July 31, after which meeting size reverted back to 10 people limit, in light of rising coronavirus cases. However, the attendees, packed closely in chairs, were in violation of the six-foot social distancing mandate, which is required for people not living in the same household.
Newly installed Police Chief Christopher Scott Egan replaces retiring Police Chief James Wilkewitz. In addition, police officers Erik Jablonski and Ilie Fetelea were promoted to the rank of sergeant, while Vince Genaw was promoted to lieutenant.
Egan’s career in law enforcement began 28 years ago in Trenton, where he started as an auxiliary officer, and soon became a sergeant in charge of the motor pool, responding with the department’s truck to crash scenes and barricaded gunman situations.
In 1997, Egan joined the Detroit Police Department, before returning in 1999 to his hometown police force in Allen Park.
With the APPD, Egan served as a motorcycle officer, a safety town instructor, the Community Emergency Response Team coordinator and as commander of the 18-city Downriver Mutual Aide Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Team, which worked with the Downriver Mutual Aid Special Weapons and Tactics team.
Egan was promoted to sergeant in 2006, and in 2010 became a lieutenant.
He has associate degrees in criminal justice and in correctional administration, a triple major bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in psychology, sociology and criminal investigations, and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He also graduated from EMU’s Police Staff and Command program.
Genaw, with 29 years in law enforcement, served from 1989 to 1996 as an infantry corporal in the U.S. Army Reserve, and attended Ferris State and Wayne State University.
He was a police cadet in Dearborn Heights from 1991 to 1992, and worked from 1992 to 1994 with the Wayne County Sheriff Department.
Genaw was with the Brownstown Township Police Department from 1994 to 1999, after which he joined APPD.
He was named APPD Officer of the Year in 2007, and in 2008 was promoted to patrol sergeant. In 2013, he became a detective sergeant.
Genaw served with the Downriver SWAT team from 2001 to 2009 as an operator and as a chemical munitions/less lethal team leader.
He served as a field training officer from 1995 to 2007, and from 2007 to 2012 as an FTO coordinator.
Genaw introduced electroshock weapons and patrol rifles to APPD from 2006 to 2007, overseeing their purchase, policy implementation and training. He is also a National Tactical Officers Association certified active shooter instructor, a patrol rifle instructor and is the APPD patrol rifle program coordinator.
Jablonski is approaching his 18-year anniversary with the APPD, where he has served as an FTO for the past 12 years.
He graduated from Lawrence Technological University with an associate degree in engineering technology and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and graduated from the Wayne County Regional Police Academy.
Fetelea worked with the Northville Township and Hamtramck police departments before beginning his 17-year career with APPD, where he has served as a firearms instructor for the past four years.
He graduated from Schoolcraft College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice, and is a graduate of the Wayne County Regional Police Academy.