Motorists in Wayne best check
their speedometers as there are
now Michigan State Police cars
patrolling throughout the city.
First Lt. Michael Shaw from
the Michigan State Police
appeared at the meeting of the
Wayne City Council recently,
along with Wayne Police Chief
Alan Maciag, to explain the serv-
ices state troopers will be provid-
ing inWayne.
Maciag told the council mem-
bers that when he began with the
Wayne department in 1998, the
force comprised 44-45 officers
while currently there are only 19,
including himself. He noted that
two of those officers were still in
training at the academy, leaving a
force of only 17.
He said that the financial
strife in the community and the
failure of a millage request to
fund public safety had a serious
negative effect on the police
department.
“We are doing the best we can
with what we have,” he told the
council. “My job as chief is to pro-
vide the best servicewe can.”
That lack of manpower, he
indicated is the reason for
requesting help from the state
police. The request had been dis-
cussed at a previous meeting and
council members had agreed to
request state help, which is
expected to begin thisweek.
“We are not a long-term solu-
tion. The solution is more Wayne
officers. We are not here to take
you over,” Shaw told the council.
He explained that Wayne officers
will continue to answer all calls
for service in the city and that the
state troopers would concentrate
on patrols and traffic enforce-
ment, although the troopers
would certainly help in the event
of serious crime or enforcement
of outstandingwarrants.
“Let me make it clear, if you
are dealing drugs, you are going
to jail, if you are a sex offender
who is not compliant, you are
going to jail. If you have a war-
rant out for your arrest, we will
find you and you will go to jail,”
Shawsaid.
“While we will not answer
calls for service, we will certainly
help stop crime and lock offend-
ers up. We just won't do the
paperwork.”
He added that the troopers
will also perform motor carrier
enforcement particularly on
MichiganAvenue and thatWayne
might see the state police heli-
copter in the area.
“This will be proactive polic-
ing,” Shaw said. He added that
the hours of troopers in the area
would be data-driven and that
troopers would be in Wayne
when data determined that
crimewas themost prevalent.
Mayor Susan Rowe told Shaw
she had a suggestion for the
troopers and said that the traffic
violations at what is known as the
St. Mary curve on Michigan
Avenuewest “is a problem.”
“The speed limit there drops
and yet people do not slow down
in the area of the church and
school,” she said.
“If drivers get a ticket there
from a trooper, they can say it is
from you Madam Mayor,” Shaw
respondedwitha chuckle.
“Once again, we are here to
help, but we are not the solu-
tion,” he concluded.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
January 26, 2017
W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
We are doing the best
we can with what we have.
My job as chief is to provide
the best service we can.
”
State police begin traffic patrols in Wayne
Westland Jaycees
name new club officers
Chamber seeks board members
New officers of the Westland Jaycees
have been elected for 2017.
RebeccaMarkonni will serve as pres-
ident of the group; Sarah Austin, chair-
man of the board; Rebeka Beresford,
community vice president; Melody
Montgomery, individual development
vice president; April Hendryx, public
relations liaison; Courtney Ford-Scott,
secretary; James Hart, treasurer; Emily
Dreyer, membership director and
Andrew Beresford, management direc-
tor.
The Westland Area Jaycees are also
active in Wayne and Garden City and
the goals for 2017 include creating part-
nerships with other local organizations
in an effort to have a larger impact.
Three board members were recog-
nized in 2016 at the Jaycees national
meeting in Detroit. Austin and
Markonni took first-place in the
National Debate Competition.
Christopher Crawford, 2016 treasurer,
was also recognized as their teammate.
He has gone on to join the board of
directors of his dual chapter, theLivonia
Jaycees, as well as holding a Michigan
Jaycees Leadership position on the pro-
gramming team, according to a pre-
pared release fromthe organization.
Hendryx placed third in theNational
Speak-up Competition. She is also
active this year at the state level with
Michigan Jaycees Leadership on the
programming team, focusing on compe-
titions.
Upcoming events this year include a
bowling fundraiser in February, Easter
Egg-Stravaganza in April and Metal
Mania in May. The Jaycees are also
planning a Meet the Council event in
Wayne in May. Last year, the group pro-
vided Christmas gifts to more than 100
children.
Membership is open to individual
ages 21 to 40 who are interested in serv-
ing the community. Meetings take place
at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every
month at the Wayne-Ford Civic League.
For more information, visit
-
landarea jaycees.org.
The Wayne Chamber of Commerce
has two open seats on the board of direc-
tors.
According to chamber president Don
Nicholson, this is an opportunity to have
input into the chamber and the Wayne
community.
The board members meet at noon the
first Tuesday of eachmonth for anhour.
Interested applicants should contact
Nicholson at (734) 658-5296 or email
.
St. Mary open house set
St. Mary Catholic School,
which offers preschool
through 8th grade educa-
tion, will host an open
house from 11 a.m. until 2
p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at 34516
W. Michigan Avenue in
Wayne.
St. Mary offers highly
qualified teachers and an
exceptional academic pro-
gram to Catholic and non-
Catholic students in a diverse environment. The school also offers enrichment
programs beyond the basic curriculum such as sports, spelling bees, academic
Olympics, student council, children's vocal and bells choirs, band, scouting pro-
grams, andbefore and after school care, according to a spokesperson.
St. Mary is fully accredited and students score consistently above average
nationwide on the IowaStandardizedTest.
For
more
information,
call
(734)
721-1240
or
schooloffice@stmarywayne.orghttp://stmaryschoolwayne.org/.
