Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart (left) recognizes Police Officers Amy Kidle, Faten Shokr, William Ruch, Abraham Ouza, John Tynan and Hamze Younis, and Sgt. Nicholas Young during the Feb. 14 City Council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – Police Chief Jerrod Hart recognized nine police officers and two dispatch employees during the Feb. 14 City Council meeting for the apprehension of two larceny from auto suspects.
Recognized with the Chief’s Unit Award were Sgt. Nicholas Szopko and Police Officers Dan Horning, Ty Jasman, Amy Kindle, Abrahan Ouza, William Ruch, Faten Shokr, John Tynan and Hamze Younis, as well as dispatch employees Esmerelda Barba and Randi Sloan-Demetriou.
Hart said that the city’s police officers stand ready to go toward danger in the community.
“I am very, very proud to be their chief, and you should all be very proud to have them in our community,” he said.
Hart said at 5:30 a.m. Jan. 25 dispatchers Barba and Sloan-Demetriou received a report of a person walking down the street with a portable saw of the type commonly used to steal catalytic converters from underneath vehicles.
Police officers responded to the area of West Warren and Fenton, where they took a 61-year-old Ohio man into custody as a catalytic converter theft suspect.
Fresh footprints in the snow then led police officers to suspect a second person was involved in the theft of catalytic converters, and they followed a trail for more than four miles in the snow before arresting a 27-year-old man from Monroe.
“They located evidence on his person that tied him to the crime, and both of these gentlemen were taken into custody without any incident or any use of force, without any problems,” Hart said.
He said the incident involved officers on both the midnight and day shifts as well as dispatch personnel working in successful coordination.
“I want to thank each one of you for your diligence,” Hart said.