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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
November 15, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- I
NKSTER
- W
ESTLAND
Former city official returns to Westland
The poet who claimed 'you can't
go home again' obviously never
met DavidCox.
When Cox left the insurance
business more than 20 years ago to
pursue a career in public service,
he thought his days helping insur-
ance clientswere behindhim.
Now, with nearly two decades of
experience in public service, Cox
has officially returned to his first
career, joining an old friend and
colleague at an independent insur-
ance agency based inWestland.
Cox has come full circle, after
time serving on various local
boards and commissions, including
Nankin Transit Authority, Tax
Increment Finance Authority and
the Rouge River Wet Weather
Demonstration Project. He served
as president of the Wayne
Westland Board of Education and
was president pro-tem of the
Westland City Council after having
served as assistant mayor of the
City of Romulus.
Most recently, Cox had been at a
company dedicated to working on
projects to aid veterans. A promo-
tion within that organization took
himout of the state for a fewyears.
He returned, recently, however,
and joined forces with Gregory
Bajorek, the owner of Choice
Insurance Agency inWestland. Cox
and Bajorek have a long-standing
friendship and worked together in
the independent insurance system
before Cox’ decision to move to
public service.
“This is like old home week,”
Bajorek said.
“It was exciting to meet and
work with so many of our country's
heroes but I am happy to be home
and blessed to once again be work-
ingwithGreg,” Cox said.
Bajorek made some career
changes, too, at about the same
timeCox opted for public service.
“When David left to enter pub-
lic service, I began building Choice
Insurance Agency, Inc.,” Bajorek
said. His agency now has contracts
with some of the finest insurers in
Michigan and affords full-time
employment to eight people, he
said.
Cox officially rejoined Choice
Insurance Oct. 18 and said his
focus will bemarketing highly pop-
ular specialty programs in addition
to other policies.
“These programs are extremely
popular with our customers,”
Bajorek said. “People who must
reduce premiums but can't afford
to reduce protection have found
them very beneficial. Because of
their popularity, we need experi-
enced agents who know and
understand the coverage forms.
That's where David comes in,” he
said.
Cox said he is sure he will be
comfortable working at Choice
Agency, as it has been an active
member of the Westland Chamber
of Commerce and a sponsor of the
annual 4th of July Summer
Festival Fireworks, community
activismwhich is close to his heart.
If the pair don't see enough of
each other at work, both are mem-
bers of the Westland Community
Foundation Board of Directors, an
altruistic group that provides mul-
tiple scholarships to area students.
Home again, indeed.
Prosecutor in drug case
will remain disbarred
Karen Plant, the Wayne County
Prosecutor who allowed two Inkster
police officers to lie under oath on the
witness stand, will remain disbarred and
prohibited from practicing law in the
state.
Plants appealed her disbarment to
the state Supreme Court but that appeal
was denied last week. The charges
stemmed from a 2005 trial regarding the
possession of 103 pounds of cocaine.
Plants knowingly allowed the two Inkster
officers to lie about their acquaintance
with an informant in the trial of
Alexander Aceval, who was arrested in
connection with the possession and
attempted distribution of a large amount
of cocaine. Plants admitted to the court
that she allowed the officers to lie.
Aceval, who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, has
tried to withdraw that plea on the basis
that the misconduct of Plants and the
police officers tainted the trial and
deniedhima fair trial.
The two Inkster officers last year
pleaded guilty to misdemeanor neglect,
saying they lied to protect their inform-
ant from retribution. Court testimony
indicated that the informant was paid
$4,500 for tipping police to the massive
stash and was arrested with Aceval to
cover up his role. His identity was never
disclosed to the defense or jury.
Plants, like the officers, claimed she
was protecting the informant's identity,
but ultimately acknowledged that she
should not have allowed the officers to
make false statements during the trial.
All three claimed that the informant's life
would have been placed in jeopardy if
his identity hadbeen revealed.
Plants can seek to have her law
license reinstated after five years
Wall of honor
Keystone Academy recognized the service of veterans last Wednesday when both veterans
and current military servicemen attended the Veterans' Day assembly at the school. Students
also brought in pictures and written stories of family members who served in the armed forces
to create a wall of honor in the halls of Keystone Academy. Keystone student Haley Murray,
shows her poster, featuring her uncle, a former Marine, to fellow students Derek Seitz and
Brookelyn Desselles.