7/12/23 Madison-Park News

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BIRMINGHAM

JULY 12, 2023 Vol. 42, No. 15

SATURDAY • JULY 29 9AM - 5PM

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Madison Heights swears in new police chief BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Volunteers with Hazel Park Neighborhood Enrichment are greeted by librarians at the Hazel Park District Library. The library received one of HPNE’s final donations.

HAZEL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ENRICHMENT MAKES FINAL DONATIONS BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

HAZEL PARK — Hazel Park Neighborhood Enrichment recently disbanded, but still has funds to spend. Now, those remaining monies are going to be split between three recipients. The Hazel Park District Library, Hazel Park Animal Control and Hazel Park Public Schools will each receive $1,100 from HPNE. The donation to the library will fund adult programs and materials, while the donation to the shelter will cover medical costs and supplies, and the donation to the school district will be used for community swim hours at Hazel Park High School. Darlene Shaughnessy, HPNE’s vice president, said the club disbanded because its members had

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Brent LeMerise was sworn in as the chief of police in Madison Heights on June 29.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights Police Department has a new leader. Brent LeMerise, formerly the deputy police chief, was sworn in as the police chief on June 29, taking over for Corey Haines, the previous chief who retired after 31 years with the department. “I am incredibly excited,” LeMerise said. “Incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead this Police Department, and to strike a balance between some of the great things we’ve done, and some of the things we’d like to see changed. We’re looking for a collaborative effort here.” LeMerise started as a public safety officer for Grosse Pointe Woods in 2002, cross-trained in both police and fire. After one year there, he joined the Madison Heights Police Department in 2003. Since then, he has held positions such as road patrol officer, detective, road patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, road patrol lieutenant and deputy chief. He also worked as a hostage negotiator, field training supervisor and commander, and accreditation manager. LeMerise said that he knew he was interested in police work as early as age 19. He began taking criminal justice courses at Macomb Community College, and put himself through the police academy after receiving his associate’s degree. He also took jobs related to law enforcement, including work in loss prevention at Hudson’s — now Macy’s — and later as uniformed security. For his new role as the police chief, he has been preparing by attending chief ’s conferences multiple times a year. He also attended a school for new chiefs and has registered for a staff and command school, beginning early next year. He is currently enrolled at Ferris State University and has been taking online courses as well. He said that helping get the Police Department accredited in recent years has been one of his signature accomplishments. He was assigned as the department’s first-ever accreditation manager for that undertaking, which began in 2020. The process took nearly


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