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Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff will
present the 2015 State of the City address
at the Greater Romulus Chamber of
Commerce luncheon in January.
Burcroff, who is currently serving his
first four-year term as mayor, is a life-long
resident of the city and a graduate of
RomulusHighSchool.
Prior to his election as mayor, Burcroff
served the community as a planning com-
missioner, a city council member, chair-
man and board member of the Romulus
Boys and Girls Club, and is the founder of
theRomulus cleanSweepprogram.
Burcroff is an active member of the
Community United Methodist Church and
the chamber of commerce.
Burcroff will speak at noon at the
luncheon program and registration and
networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 6
at the Sheraton Detroit Metro Airport,
8000MerrimanRoad inRomulus.
Organizers from the chamber noted
that seating is limited and that reserva-
tionswill be accepteduntil Jan. 2. The cost
is $20 for chamber members and $25 for
nonmembers.
For reservations or more information,
call (734) 893-0694 or visit info@romu-
luschamber.com.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
2
December 26, 2014
Check us out online at
www.associatednewspapers.net.
R
OMULUS
- W
ESTLAND
City hires 7 new officers and promotes 6
Funeral cost donations sought
Westland City Council chambers were
packed with families and friends of newly
promoted and newly-hired Westland
Police officers last week.
Seven new officers were hired, three
veteran officers were
promoted to the rank of
sergeant and three pro-
moted to the rank of
lieutenant in the depart-
ment during induction
ceremonies. The hirings
and promotions followed
three retirements and
the awarding of a
$500,000 federal COPS
grant, which will fund
the four newofficers.
The new hires
include two individuals
who were formerly involved in the
Westland Police Department. Jennifer
Boljesic is a former Westland Police
Service Aide and the daughter of an offi-
cer with 36 years of experience in law
enforcement. Robert Schurig started with
theWestland Police Department at age 16
as aWestland Police Explorer and left his
job as an officer in Auburn Hills to join
Westland.
The new hires also include a Marine
veteran and veteran officers from other
departments. John Halaas served in the
US Marine Corps from 1995-1999, and
was recalled for Operation Enduring
Freedom in 2002 and completed another
tour in Iraq after joining the reserves in
2004; Halaas is also a former Pittsfield
Township police officer. Jason Nevell for-
merly served with the Detroit Police
Department won the 2010 Detroit Police
Officer of the Year Award, and he has
received a Lifesaving
Award on two occasions.
Kristopher Richardson,
a lifelong Garden City
resident,
recently
retired from the Detroit
Police Department after
20 years of service, and
has served on a variety
of units.
Rodney Donald, is
also a second-generation
officer whose father
servedwithGardenCity;
Donald graduated from
Brevard College with a degree in
Criminal Justice, while also starring at
running back for the football team. Ed
Pawlowski has been working as a cadet
for the Dearborn Heights Police
Department and graduated from the
Wayne County Regional Police Academy
inMay 2014.
“I am proud to welcome these highly
qualified police officers toWestland,” said
Mayor William R. Wild. “Our community
looks forward to their service and dedica-
tion to the residents.”
Officers Jerry Farrar, Christopher
Gazdecki, and Timothy Liess were each
promoted to sergeant. Farrar has 14 years
of police experience, including nine with
Westland. Gazdecki has served the past 14
years with Westland after starting his
career in Detroit. Liess is a Westland vet-
eran who also completed two tours of
duty in Iraq working Counter-Terrorism
Operationswith theUSNavy Seals.
Officers Kyle Dawley, Randy Thivierge,
and Jason Blanchard were each promot-
ed to the rank of lieutenant. Dawley has
served Westland for the past decade in a
variety of roles, and he has now been
assigned to the Detective Patrol Division,
Detective Bureau, and the Special
Investigations Unit. Thivierge has nearly
20 years of experience in law enforce-
ment and was an original member of the
perimeter Rifle Teamand currently leads
the Firearms Program for Westland.
Blanchard began his law enforcement
career in 1994 and was hired by Westland
in 1995; he has been assigned to thePatrol
Division.
“Our promoted officers have displayed
leadership and a commitment to protect-
ing and serving our community that
deserves recognition,” said Wild. “We
look forward to your continued service,
and as you can see by this packed house,
our community appreciates all the great
work youhave done so far.”
Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik added, “I am
very proud of what this department has
accomplished in the past five years and
what we intend to complete over the next
five years. These officers will be fine addi-
tions to our department and these super-
visors are true leaders who will help take
us to the next step.”
A group of volunteers is organizing a
spaghetti dinner to help pay the funeral
expenses of 12-year-old Raymond Joseph
Pattonwas killed by a train inWayneNov.
23 when he tried to cross the tracks at
Venoywhile a trainwas oncoming.
The dinner will take place from 5-6:30
p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Westland
Friendship Center. Donations will be
accepted at the door.
For more information or to donate,
contact buddyshuh@me.com.
Mayor William Wild, far right, and Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik, second from right, congrat-
ulate the six officers recently promoted to new ranks in the department.Mayor Wild &
Chief Jedrusik with the promoted officers.
Organizers from the
chamber noted that seating
is limited and that reservations
will be accepted until Jan. 2.
”
State of City address scheduled at Chamber of Commerce lunch
I am proud to
welcome these highly
qualified police
officers to Westland.
Mayor William R. Wild
”