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August 15, 2019 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

WAYNE - WESTLAND

State honors detective who solved ‘cold case’

Wayne Police Detective Kevin ” Schmidtke said he never forgot
Schmidtke was recently honored To put it mildly, I am extremely the case as the victim was young
with a Distinguished Service and he was “elated” to have solved
Award from the Michigan proud of him and our department. the case.
Association of Chiefs of Police for Cook has entered guilty pleas to
his work on a cold case in his city. two counts of criminal sexual con-
He was one of only four officers As a detective, he reopened the Schmidtke's suspicions eventually duct, one for assaulting a person
statewide to receive the honor. investigation into the attack and led him to request permission under the age of 13, according to
His pursuit and investigation of used the DNA registry for matches from the Michigan State Police to court records. He has also entered
a rape case which occurred when and reviewed other sexual crime compare a suspect's DNA to the guilty pleas in three counts of first-
he was only a rookie officer led to investigations for similarities to evidence in the rape case and was degree criminal sexual conduct.
the arrest and conviction of the the cold case. He eventually dis- successful in identifying him as “Without Lt. Schmidtke's dedi-
perpetrator of an attack that took covered DNA and other evidence the probable perpetrator in the cation to the case, the suspect
place in 2001. Schmidtke, 40, took matches in this case and others cold case. He said that Sgt. would have continued to commit
the initial report of the attack ongoing in Inkster, Detroit and Stephen Perez helped with inter- sexual assaults. I strongly believe
nearly 18 years ago and the case Ohio investigations. While the views and witness statements that that Lt. Schmidtke's actions pre-
had gone cold until the victim investigations were continuing, helped lead to the arrest of Bashiri vented numerous sexual assaults. Detective Kevin Schmidtke
again reached out to Schmidtke, the detectives did not have a name Kairj Cook, 43, of Inkster, who was To put it mildly, I am extremely to congratulate him on his
asking if there had been any reso- for the suspect. As evidence con- also charged with several other proud of him and our department. achievement,” commented Wayne
lution. tinued to compile, bit by bit, sexual offenses. I hope everyone takes some time Police Chief Ryan Strong.
City seeks public input on local marijuana ordinance

Voters may have approved the that the city is looking at very older to purchase, possess and October 2019 prompting Westland maps or other presentation docu-
use of marijuana in the state, but carefully,” commented Mayor use marijuana and marijuana- officials to consider potential ments shared with study session
officials in the city of Westland William R. Wild.. “In an effort to infused edibles for the purpose of ordinance changes. An area of the attendees. Residents are also
want to know what local residents promote transparency the city recreational use. The bill also city website is now dedicated to welcome to attend these open
think about the issue. wants to make sure that all of the created a state licensing system the information being examined study sessions to provide elected
Currently, city officials are con- information being reviewed is for marijuana businesses and throughout the ordinance draft- officials with feedback through-
sidering adjustments to local ordi- available to members of the pub- allowed municipalities to ban or ing process. The page, which can out the decision making process.
nances to align with state law lic and encourages input and restrict them. Approximately 64 be found at To date, city council members
which allows medical and recre- feedback throughout the percent of Westland voters voted www.cityofwestland.com under have reviewed a range of topics,
ational marijuana use, growing, process.” in favor of the ballot initiative. the “Latest News” section of the including an overview of the state
transport and processing in In November of 2018, Michigan The State has issued draft homepage, includes a proposed laws, zoning and licensing proce-
Westland. voters approved Proposal 1, emergency rules for adult use and list of special meeting dates, the dures and permitted uses/estab-
“This is an important decision which allowed individuals 21 and anticipates licensing facilities in State of Michigan laws, and any lishments.

Clinic was incorporated in the plan that's affecting every city across
approved by council members.
the country, across all socioeco-
Mayor William R. Wild sup- nomic lines.”
FROM PAGE 1 ported the plan for the new clinic He added that a center of this
noting the serious need and the type is welcome in Westland
and suggested a white privacy current epidemic of opioid where “dozens of deaths related
fence. She said the nature of the addictions and deaths. to opioids” have occurred in
treatment provided necessitated “When you really drill into recent years.
an enclosed fence, but that it those statistics. Outside the city This facility can help those
should also be “attractive and of Detroit, Westland has the most looking for treatment, Wild said.
appealing.” opioid issues in Wayne County,” No opening date for the facili-
Artist's rendering of the proposed clinic. The change in fencing style Wild said. “This is something ty was announced.