Tim Young, President - Redford Chamber of Commerce
Posting on The Colors
Redford Township Police Honor Guard
National Anthem
Nakia Pollard - El Bethel Church
Rt. Rev. Timothy Barna - St. Michael Orthodox Church
Tim Young, President - Redford Chamber of Commerce
Awards Presentations by:
Police Chief Jen Mansfield
Fire Chief Scott Demoff
Police Officer of The Year
Officer Ryan Plymel
Firefighter of The Year
Firefighter Max Sawickyj
Ofc. Ronald Wood and Ofc. James Hackney. Case #24-8519:
On May 7, 2024, at approximately 1515 hours, officers were notified via dispatch that there was a robbery of a citizen in the area of Glendale and Arnold. Dispatch provided a description of the vehicle, which was located by Ofc. Wood. Ofc. Wood was joined by Ofc. Hackney and both worked together to stop the suspect vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle were detained on scene and later arrested. The officers were also able to locate and recover the property stolen during the robbery.
BC Dennis Lappin, Lt. Curt Verriest, Lt. Josh Coleman, Eng. Brant Hauck, Eng. Jason Hendrie, FF Tom Erickson, FF Andrew Perez, FF Jon Lada, FF Nick Philley, FF Matt Mosakowski, FF Josh Krawczyk
RTFD units were dispatched to a north-end house fire with reports of one resident who had caught himself on fire. Upon arrival, north-end crews were faced with a garage fully involved with fire and a house that was on fire with the resident inside. Upon entry to the home, crews faced extremely tough fire conditions while attempting to search for the male inside the home. Crews searched the home while simultaneously extinguishing the fire as they made progress through the home. The resident was ultimately found in the bathroom and was quickly removed from the home. The resident was transported to FH Corewell where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. This crew was able to work together under extreme conditions, overcoming every obstacle in their way to provide lifesaving efforts to this resident. Responding to incidents such as these reminds us how extremely dangerous and complex these incidents can be.
Ofc. Joseph Haapala, Ofc. Joshua Sutton, and Ofc. Christopher Pedersen. Case #24-14934: On August 4th, 2024, at approximately 1811 hours, officers were dispatched to a report of an FA domestic involving a female who was struck with a handgun. Ofc. Haapala spoke with the victim and was able to obtain the suspect’s information, location, and the fact that there were other people were in an apartment with the suspect. Armed with this information, the officers went to the suspect’s apartment. Upon arrival, the officers had to subdue a vicious dog and then make contact with the suspect. The suspect partially exited the apartment but would not fully comply. The officers coordinated and took positions with lethal (Ofc. Sutton) and less lethal (Ofc. Pedersen) force options, while continuing to give verbal instructions. After several tense minutes, the suspect complied and was arrested by Ofc. Haapala, Ofc. Sutton, and Ofc. Pedersen. After arresting the suspect, the scene was searched and the firearm was recovered.
Ofc. Michael Sharp. Case #24-8153: On May 2, 2024, at approximately 1000 hours, Ofc. Sharp was monitoring area departments’ radio traffic. While monitoring, Ofc. Sharp learned that a vehicle fled, from Dearborn Heights PD during a traffic stop. The vehicle was last seen in the area of Beech Daly and Joy roads. Ofc. Sharp positioned himself in the area of Beech Daly and West Chicago and soon observed the suspect vehicle at the intersection. Ofc. Sharp followed the suspect vehicle and coordinated a plan to have assisting units’ box in the suspect vehicle at a traffic light. Officers were able to affect a stop and arrest the suspect without any further incident.
Ofc. Ryan Eddings, Ofc. William Baiocco. Case #24-18659:
Ofc. Eddings and Ofc. Baiocco were patrolling the area of the Traveler’s Motel at 0253 hours when they observed a suspicious vehicle leaving the motel. They observed the vehicle commit a traffic infraction when the vehicle left the motel, so they stopped the vehicle to investigate. During the stop, officers observed open alcohol containers in the vehicle, so they secured the driver and passenger of the vehicle. During a consent search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded Ruger handgun in the front passenger seat. The passenger was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm.
March 12, 2024
BC Mayes, Lt. Adam Pielecha, Lt. Chris Lisak, Eng. Iggy Kusmirek, Eng. Joel Fotovich, Eng. Dan Borsuck, Eng. Jason Kiekbusch, FF Tom Erickson, FF Arlie Caudill, FF Loren Carlington, FF Dan Hurst, FF Max Sawickyj
Fire units were dispatched on the afternoon of March 12th to a possible house fire. Upon arrival, units found heavy smoke coming from the home, and fire coming from the front bedroom. Initial crew members quickly went to work conducting a search of the home while extinguishing fire in multiple areas of the home. Crews encountered several additional hazards including multiple holes in the floor, ultimately causing one firefighter to fall through, luckily catching himself on the floor joists. Crew members quickly transitioned to assisting the down firefighter, while still facing extreme heat and heavy smoke conditions. The crew was able to safely pull the firefighter back up without any major injury. Crews continued to fight tough conditions until ultimately getting the fire under control and faced a long overhaul process. This call illustrates the tremendous teamwork and the level of bravery these crews demonstrate on a daily basis.
Ofc. Ryan Plymel Case #24-24252: On December 17, 2024, Ofc. Ryan Plymel conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle in a McDonald’s parking lot. Ofc. Plymel discovered that the vehicle was stolen out of Warren. Ofc. Plymel arrested the driver and located multiple fraudulent credit cards in the suspect’s possession. A check of the suspect’s criminal history showed multiple fraud arrests involving credit cards. Due to Ofc. Plymel’s investigative skills, a stolen vehicle was recovered, and multiple potential fraud crimes were prevented.
Ofc. Ryan Eddings. Case #24-1307: On 07/06/2024, Ofc. Eddings was dispatched to a possible attempt UDAA (stolen vehicle) that had just occurred. Ofc. Eddings began canvassing the area and located two suspects wearing ski masks in the area. Ofc. Eddings detained both suspects and located burglary tools on their person that were consistent with committing UDAA’s. Ofc. Eddings then placed both suspects under arrest. Due to Ofc. Eddings investigative skills, two suspects were apprehended and any future UDAA’s by the suspects were prevented.
Ofc. James Smith. Case #24-13100: On July 8, 2024, Ofc. James Smith conducted a field contact on a suspicious male on a bicycle. Ofc. Smith spoke with subject and using his verbal skills, he gained consent to search the subject’s backpack. Ofc. Smith then located 14 grams of crystal meth and a large “stiletto” style knife that also had a window punch. It also appeared that the suspect was casing the area to potentially commit a larceny from auto. Due to Ofc. Smith’s investigative skills, a large amount of meth was taken off the street and possible future LFA’s were prevented.
April 6, 2024
Lt. Josh Coleman, Eng. Jason Hendrie, FF Nick Philley, FF Josh Krawczyk
North-end crews were dispatched to a male with trouble breathing and vomiting. Shortly after arrival, pt became unresponsive, not breathing, and had a pulse of 24 BPM. Pt was placed on a cardiac monitor to begin pacing which caused pt to go into cardiac arrest. Crew immediately started CPR and following all their treatments, pt regained a pulse after several minutes. The crew quickly transported pt to Beaumont FH and provided this pt the ability to make a full recovery and returned home after a short hospital stay.
Ofc. Hall and Reserve Ofc. Habhab. Case #24-14396: On 08/05/2024 around 0134 hrs. Ofc. Hall & Res. Ofc. Habhab initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with improper plates. The driver did not have a driver’s license on his person and his status was not valid. The driver was arrested for not having a valid driver license. The passenger was arrested for an out of jurisdiction Felony warrant. During an inventory search of the vehicle officers located a black backpack which belonged to the passenger. The backpack contained a Walther 380 ACP & a Smith & Wesson 38 Special along with live ammunition for both weapons. The passenger was charged with Weapons – Carrying Concealed.
Ofc. Christian Werner and Ofc. Ryan Eddings. Case #24-13020: On 07/06/2024, Ofc. Ryan Eddings located two suspicious subjects wearing ski masks in the neighborhoods. One subject was on a bicycle and the other was on foot. Ofc. Eddings detained the subject on the bicycle and then asked Ofc. Werner via radio to detain the subject on foot. Ofc. Eddings discovered drug paraphernalia on his subject and also found out that the subject had a warrant out of another jurisdiction. Ofc. Eddings then arrested that subject. Ofc. Werner confronted the second subject and located a Co2 pistol modified to look real, a flashlight and a crowbar. The subject then admitted to using these items to conduct BNE’s of vacant homes and was placed under arrest. Due to both officer’s investigative skills and teamwork any future BNE’s/ LFA’s were deterred that night.
Officer James Smith. Case #2400019356: On October 3, 2024, at 0400 hours, Ofc. Smith was patrolling in the area of Telegraph and 5 Mile Rd. Ofc. Smith observed a Dodge Ram with dark tinted windows and he could not see the occupant(s) in the vehicle due to the significant tint. Ofc. Smith made a traffic stop on the Dodge and contacted the driver of the vehicle. The driver gave him a Michigan temporary driver license. Ofc. Smith checked the driver’s record and found him to be record clear. Ofc. Smith asked for consent to search the vehicle and it was granted by the driver. While searching the vehicle, Ofc. Smith found an open bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. The driver was advised that he was being detained and at this point the driver started to reach for his waistband and was advised by Ofc. Smith and other officers that arrived at the location of the stop to stop reaching for his waistband. Ofc. Smith located a loaded handgun with a 10-round magazine that was in the right front pocket of the driver. The driver did not possess a concealed weapons permit. Further investigation revealed that the driver was a convicted felon who should not be in possession of a firearm.
June 18, 2024
Lt. Curt Verriest, Lt. Ed Dudek, Eng. Jeremy Baird, Eng. Joel Fotovich, Eng. Jason Kiekbusch, FF Tom Erickson, PFF James Borkowski
North End dispatched to a call for an unresponsive man. Upon arrival, the crew found a tree service cutting down a tree behind a residence. Crews found an unresponsive male hanging inverted in a climbing harness approximately 30 feet up in the tree. Workers from the tree company were unable to get the worker into their bucket truck. FD was able to slightly lower the unresponsive patient to a height where other FD crew members could use ground ladders to rescue the patient. PT was suffering from a Heat emergency, after being treated PT made a full recovery.
Ofc. Brockert-Kress. Case #24-6478: On 04/07/2024 around 2245 hrs.
Ofc. Brockert-Kress was patrolling around Grand River and Brady when he initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that disregarded a stop sign. A LEIN check revealed that the vehicle was recently stolen out of the Township. The vehicle stopped and the driver was ordered out of the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Ofc. Brockert-Kress gave chase on foot. He was able to catch up to the suspect and take him to the ground while securing him. Ofc. Brocker-Kress found drug paraphernalia on the suspect and inside the stolen vehicle.
Officer James Smith. Case #24-22986: On November 25, 2024, at 0330 hours, Ofc. Smith was patrolling in the neighborhood area of Lexington and Student when he observed a subject that was walking in the middle of the street. The subject was wearing a ski mask and had a hoodie sweatshirt up over his head, allowing Ofc. Smith to see only the subject’s eyes. Ofc. Smith stopped the subject for walking in the street and conducted a Terry Stop. During the Terry Stop encounter and subsequent pat down, Ofc. Smith felt what he recognized as a gun in the waistband of the suspect. Ofc. Smith asked the suspect if it was a real gun or a BB gun, to which the suspect replied to Ofc. Smith that it was a firearm. The suspect did not possess a concealed weapons permit and was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon (CCW). At the time it was confiscated, the 9mm handgun that was fully loaded with one in chamber and a full 15 round magazine.
Ofc. Ryan Plymel. Case #24-10636: On June 4, 2024, Ofc. Ryan Plymel conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an improper license plate. Ofc. Plymel arrested the driver for warrants out of another jurisdiction. Ofc. Plymel then spoke with the passenger who provided him false information. Ofc. Plymel placed the passenger under arrest as well. While searching the vehicle, Ofc. Plymel discovered a handgun with a scratched off serial number along with 4 grams of crack-cocaine. Ofc. Plymel charged both the passenger and the driver with possession of crack-cocaine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Due to Ofc. Plymel’s self- initiated field activity skills, an illegal weapon and narcotics were taken off of the streets.
October 8, 2024
Lt. Adam Pielecha, Eng. Kurt Driscoll, FF Jon Lada, FF Nick Philley, FF Matt Mosakowski
Crews were dispatched to an elderly woman who lost consciousness. The crew quickly assessed pt and got her moved to the ambulance where she ultimately coded. Crews began ACLS procedures including CPR, advanced ET airway, medications, and defibrillation. Crew regained ROSC prior to arriving to the hospital. Due to the crew's quick response and decision-making skills, the pt was transferred to ER staff 25 minutes after the call was received.
Ofc. Hall. Case #24-7106: On 04/17/2024 around 0203 hrs. Ofc. Hall initiated a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle with no electronic verified insurance. The driver did not have a driver’s license on his person and his status was suspended. The driver was arrested for having a suspended license. During an inventory search of the vehicle Ofc. Hall located a backpack which contained an extended pistol magazine with 31 live rounds along with narcotics. He also located a loaded Glock 19 inbetween the center console and the driver’s seat. The driver was charged with Weapons – Carrying Concealed & Controlled Substances –Possession.
Ofc. William Baiocco. Case #24-12708: On 07/01/2024, Ofc. Baiocco conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving a motel. Ofc. Baiocco spoke with the driver and then noticed a silver vile in the cubby of the center console. The driver then handed the vile to Ofc. Baiocco and Ofc. Baiocco discovered crack- cocaine inside. Ofc. Baiocco also discovered brass knuckles and multiple drug paraphernalia items inside the vehicle. Due to Ofc. Baiocco’s investigative skills, crack- cocaine, drug paraphernalia and an illegal weapon were taken off of the streets.
Ofc. Short. Case #24-6230: On 04/04/2024 around 0230 hrs. Ofc. Short initiated a traffic stop on a truck that disregarded a red light. The driver failed to provide an ID and they did not have insurance on the truck. The driver was arrested for not having a drivers license and no insurance. During an inventory search of the truck Ofc. Short located an AK Pistol in the backseat of the truck. He also found multiple ID’s out of different states with different names on them. All of the ID’s had the driver’s picture on them. The driver was charged with Weapons – Carrying Concealed, Driver’s License – Forged – Possessing 2 or more, & Weapons Felony Firearm.
October 13, 2024
Lt. Adam Pielecha, Eng. Joel Fotovich, FF Mark Perkins, FF Steven Hickey
Crews were dispatched to an elderly woman who felt ill and had trouble breathing. R3 found her to have an infected open wound on her leg with signs of gangrene. Once assessed and moved to the truck she became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Crew began ACLS interventions including the LUCAS device, advanced airway successfully placed, medications, etc. Before arriving at the ER she had regained ROSC and was transferred to the ER with a pulse and improving vital signs.
Ofc. Slomba. Case #24-22123: On 11/14/2024 around 0015 hrs. Ofc. Slomba was patrolling in the area of Grand River & 7 Mile when he observed a male exiting a vehicle that was parked in the local auto sales lot. Ofc. Slomba then watched the male go to a different parking lot and open the door on another parked vehicle. Ofc. Slomba made contact with the male. The male stated he was inside the 1st vehicle and he was looking into the 2nd vehicle for his lost lighter. Further investigation found narcotics scattered throughout the 1st vehicle. Ofc. Slomba realized the male fit the description from several recent B & E’s at local businesses and notified the detective bureau of his suspicions. The male was arrested for narcotics and was later charged for the recent B & E’s.
Ofc. Christopher Pedersen and Ofc. Justin Evans. Case #24-18272: On September 18th, 2024, at approximately 0947 hours, Ofc. Pedersen and Ofc. Evans were dispatched to the area of 8 Mile/Dalby for an occupied stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, Ofc. Evans made contact with the male driver and female passenger. After a short time, the male fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. Ofc. Evans pursued the suspect vehicle and was joined by Ofc. Pedersen. The officers were able to block the suspect’s path and prevent the pursuit from continuing. At that time, both officers removed the suspect from the vehicle and a fight ensured. The suspect repeatedly punched, kicked, and bit Ofc. Pedersen and Ofc. Evans. Ofc. Pedersen received multiple bite wounds and a deep bone bruise on his right hand. Ofc. Evans received a concussion from falling during the incident. Both officers stayed in the fight and were eventually able to subdue and arrest the suspect.
Ofc. James Hackney. Case #24-9891: On May 25, 2024, at approximately 1153 hours, Ofc. Hackney was proactively patrolling the area of West Chicago and Telegraph. At that time, Ofc. Hackney received a FLOCK notification that a stolen vehicle was in the area of Joy and Hazelton. Ofc. Hackney later located the stolen vehicle and arrested the driver. Upon searching the vehicle, Ofc. Hackney located two small safes that were disguised to look like dictionaries. Both safes were later found to contain multiple driver’s licenses that did not belong to the suspect. As Ofc. Hackney continued to search the vehicle; he located a loaded 9mm handgun, multiple checks, a social security card, tax forms, a Spectrum cable bill, and multiple debit cards. None of the items were issued to or in the suspect’s name. It was later found that the suspect was on federal probation for fraud.
October 31, 2024
Eng. Jesse Frizzell, Eng. Jason Kiekbusch, FF Andrew Perez, FF Arlie Caudill, FF Jon Lada
Crews were dispatched for a female in labor. Crew arrived to find a female in active labor, requiring immediate transport. Crew quickly prepped for the possibility for a newborn delivery. Things quickly progressed while enroute to the hospital and the crew was able to deliver a healthy baby girl. Mom and baby were monitored and transported to the hospital without any complications and were released after a few days in the hospital.
Ofc. Christopher Pedersen. Case #24-2031: On February 2, 2024, at approximately 1611 hours, officers were dispatched for a mental health call. Dispatch informed that a group home client was cutting his own wrist and actively trying to stab himself. Upon arrival, officers found the client outside, actively cutting his wrist. Ofc. Pedersen used de-escalation techniques and spoke with the client, ordering him to drop the glass. The client repeatedly refused and informed Ofc. Pedersen that he wanted to die. Ofc. Pedersen remained vigilant and was eventually successful in getting the client to drop the glass. The client was later petitioned for a mental health evaluation.
Ofc. Dakota Bakka, Ofc. Scott Ivey, MSP Trooper Bellestri & K9 Koma. Case #24-18236: On September 17, 2024, around 1856 hrs. Ofc. Dakota Bakka and Ofc. Scott Ivey were dispatched to a shots fired call with one person possibly hit. Officers arrived on scene where a juvenile was discovered shot and the suspect had fled the scene on foot. Ofc. Bakka and Ofc. Ivey were checking the area when they noticed part of a boot sticking out of the tall weeds from an alley. Officers order the suspect out of the weeds and took the suspect into custody. The arrestee had a loaded extended magazine on his person but no weapons. Trooper Bellestri & K9 Koma arrived on scene in an effort to locate the firearm. K9 Koma was able to lead a track directly to the weapon which was found in the alley.
Ofc. Joshua Sutton and Ofc. Christopher Pedersen. Case #24-9543:
On May 20, 2024, at approximately 1654 hours, RTPD officers were dispatched for a welfare check. While enroute, dispatch informed officers that the suspect was walking in traffic near Grand River and Brady. Ofc. Pedersen (later joined by Ofc. Sutton) arrived on scene and found that the female was armed with a knife and suicidal. The female was holding the knife and was running the blade of the knife across her throat and she also cut herself behind her ear. The female repeatedly asked for officers to shoot her. Both, Ofc. Pedersen and Ofc. Sutton, used de-escalate techniques to calm the situation and have the female drop the knife. Eventually, the female complied with commands, and she was taken into custody.
November 5, 2024
Lt. Chris Lisak, Eng. Iggy Kusmirek Eng. Jason Kiekbusch, FF Max Sawickyj
On an early morning in April, crews were dispatched for a male having a possible heart attack. Upon arrival, crew found the patient lying in the bedroom pulseless and apneic. Patient was quickly placed on a cardiac monitor and followed their ACLS protocols. After 20 mins of CPR, the pt regained a pulse and crew quickly transported the pt to Beaumont Farmington Hills Hospital. The pt maintained a pulse during the transport and care was transferred to ER staff at Beaumont. Crew was advised later that the patient was expected to make a full recovery.
Detective Sgt. Adam Kubrak. Case #20-13758: A CSC 1 occurred in Redford in July of 2020, where 2 victims were beaten and sexually assaulted. The suspect was arrested shortly after. Due to Covid the case was delayed until 2024 by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. By this time all victims and witnesses were unable to be located. It was later found that one of the victims was now homeless and a witness was found but was uncooperative. After dedicated work, Sgt. Kubrak was able to locate one victim and some witnesses and the case went to trial, resulting in a hung jury. Not being satisfied with this result, Sgt. Kubrak continued to work on this case. Sgt. Kubrak was then able to locate the second victim and was able to get a second trial. This trial resulted in the jury finding the suspect guilty and he was sentenced to 9 years to life in prison for the Sexual Assault.
Ofc. Ryan Plymel. Case #24-4400: On 03/07/2024, Ofc. Ryan Plymel was dispatched to a motel for a female suffering a possible drug overdose. Once on scene, Ofc. Plymel discovered a female lying on the floor unresponsive. Ofc. Plymel administered Narcan to the female and then conducted CPR for approximately 7 minutes until RTFD arrived. Due to Ofc. Plymel’s actions, the female was transported to the hospital and survived the overdose.
Officer Bakka, Sergeant J. Ditzhazy, Officer Wood, and Dispatcher
Heim. Case #240003859: On February 29th, 2024, at approximately 1330 hrs. Dispatcher Heim dispatched patrol units to 19983 Centralia on a report of a four-year old child not breathing. Dispatcher Heim stayed on the phone asking and giving directions to the parent (911 caller) of the child as to what to do. Dispatcher Heim gained information that the child had a 104-degree temperature, and the child was probably having a seizure due to the fever they were advised not to hold the child down. Dispatcher Heim was updating arriving officer of the condition of the child.
Officer Bakka arrived at the location found the child laying on his back struggling to breathe. Ofc. Bakka observed the child was shaking and his eyes were rolled to the back of his head, and only taking a shallow breath approximately every 30 seconds. Ofc. Bakka attempted to roll the child and tilt his head back to open his air way up to ease breathing but the child’s health continued to decline.
Dispatcher Heim advised that no Redford Township Rescues were available at the time and that they were getting mutual aid. Due to the child’s declining condition and no rescues being available the decision was made by Officer Bakka and Sgt. Ditzhazy to load the four-year-old into a patrol car to transport him to Corewell Hospital Farmington Hills. Officer Ditzhazy grabbed the child and carried him to a patrol unit.
Officer Ditzhazy got into the back of patrol unit with the child while Officer Bakka drove as Officer Wood followed in another patrol vehicle. All officers arrived safely at Corewell Hospital, and the child was turned over to hospital staff. Prior to officers clearing the hospital staff advised officers that they were able to get the child to breath on his own.
December 28, 2024
Eng. Jason Hendrie, Eng. Kurt Driscoll, FF Andrew Perez, FF Nick Philley, PFF Colby Panther
South-end units were dispatched to a 911 call for a male choking. FD units arrived to find RTPD units on the scene attempting to do the Heimlich Maneuver on an unresponsive male pt. Crew attempted to clear the pt's airway with forceps, with no relief. With the pt's condition quickly deteriorating, eventually having to start CPR, the crew quickly moved to their emergency airway procedures and was able to successfully perform a field surgical cricothyrotomy. This extremely rare procedure involved the crew placing a surgical incision in the pt's trachea and placing a breathing tube directly inside the trachea. Once the tube was placed, the pt's condition improved almost immediately, pt's pulse was regained and his oxygen levels quickly returned to normal. Pt was transferred to hospital in stable condition and was expected to make a full recovery.
Sgt. Jake Ditzhazy, Ofc. Chris Svoboda, Case #24-15334: Sgt. Jake
Ditzhazy and Ofc. Chris Svoboda were dispatched to the 9300 block of Dixie for a person yelling that they had just been stabbed. Officers arrived and found a group home client and worker both with stab wounds, and the suspect still inside the residence with the knife and other clients. Officers entered the residence and encountered the suspect in a back bedroom, with Ofc. Svoboda having the suspect at Taser point and Sgt. Ditzhazy having the suspect at gunpoint. Officers gave commands to the suspect to drop the knife, but he refused. The suspect then lunged toward officers, with the knife raised over his head, and attempted to stab the officers. Ofc. Svoboda was able to deploy his Taser, striking the suspect. The suspect fell back onto the floor, and the officers were able to take the suspect
Lt. Nicholas Dudek, Sgt. Michael Brusseau, Sgt. Jake Ditzhazy, Ofc. Scott Ivey, Ofc. Brian Panone, Ofc. Amel Ibradzic, Ofc. Dakota
Bakka, Ofc. Justin Evans, Ofc. Mark Buison, and Dispatcher Krystal
Heim Case #24-0003194: On February 20th, 2024, a subject posted suicidal messages on Facebook and numerous phone calls came into dispatch regarding where the subject could possibly be. Officers split up amongst the possible locations searching for the subject while Dispatcher Heim worked on securing a cell phone ping of the subject’s phone. Ofc. Bakka and Ofc. Panone were advised by a tip that the subject may be sitting in his vehicle near the Redford Marquee. Both officers responded and observed the subject with a handgun in his lap. Ofc. Bakka ordered the subject to place the handgun on the passenger seat and he complied. Ofc. Panone then opened the passenger door and secured the handgun. The subject was then taken for mental health treatment at a local facility
Mark has been selected as this year's Unit 1 award recipient. Mark has been a member of RTFD for the past 8 years. Mark continues to be heavily involved throughout the department. Known for his honest upfront opinion on things, Mark takes pride in his job and the work that he does on a daily basis. Mark continues to excel at his job as a firefighter on the fire scene and around the station, often offering to train the new guys. Mark is someone who his officers can depend on and gets done what is asked of him. Mark has always been one of the first guys to volunteer for off-duty events, such as organizing our yearly golf outing. Mark is an avid UofM fan, pickleball player, and Detroit Red Wings fan. Unit 1 is proud to select Mark Perkins for this year's unit award.
Brant has been with Redford for 13 years and has been heavily involved since the time he started. Brant is well-known for his humor, positive attitude, and delicious meals around the station. Brant has been a part of our truck maintenance committee, running our food fund, and has often volunteered to help in many other aspects around the department. On Brant's days away from the department, he is usually busy at home taking care of his several pets and spending time with his wife and kids. Our department is proud to select Brant for this year's Unit 2 award.
Dan has worked for RTFD since 2018. Dan quickly went to work and has proven himself to be a workhorse around the station and on fire scenes. Dan brings his positive attitude to work each day and continues to be an asset not only to his unit but to the whole department as a firefighter/paramedic. Dan has always been willing to take new members under his wing to help train and guide them through their probation. Dan has always been an active member and volunteering around the station and at events held outside of work. On his days off, you may find Dan, hunting, coaching his kid's sports, or just time with his family.
The Redford Jaycees Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was formed in 2013 and has been a large part of Redford Township Police Department’s efforts to staff Redford Township parades and festivals since their inception. While their primary responsibility at these events is traffic control, one of CERT’s largest impact involves their creation of Kiddie Recovery at the Redford Township Festival fireworks where they ensure missing kids are reunited with family. In addition to these duties, CERT assists with security and first aid at events, as well as being prepared to assist the Township and neighbors in the event of a catastrophic incident in the Township. Redford Jaycees CERT has also assisted other communities including joining grid searches for Danielle Steslicki in Livonia and Chelsea Bruck in Monroe County.
Louise Carr has been the Detective Bureau Administrative Assistant since 2015 and in that time she has solidified her position as a gatekeeper, miracle worker, and the glue that keeps our DB running smoothly. The job description of Admin Assistant in the DB may include answering the phone and keeping files organized, but Louise has taken this to a new level. She often solves many concerns, issues, or questions from prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the public before they escalate into problems. As a liaison between RTPD and the 17th District Court and 3rd Circuit Courts, Louise created and implemented a system to distribute and track subpoenas, ensuring officers appearances. In this liaison role, members of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office routinely express their appreciation for Louise’s efforts that make their jobs easier. Louise also coordinates with our Records and IT Department to ensure that Discoveries are completed accurately and efficiently. Outside of her duties in the DB, Louise has become an integral part of the Operations Bureau and the Police Department’s efforts to hire candidates for police officer, dispatcher, and cadet. Louise is often the liaison between these candidates and the background investigators. Most importantly, Louise is outstanding at keeping the documentation and binders of an average of 7-10 background investigations at a time organized. The importance of this role can not be expressed strongly enough.
Louise has never met a challenge, personal or work-related, that she has not met and overcome. In addition to these roles, Louise displays a positive and excited attitude, raising the morale of the entire 2nd floor, often acting as the “Mom” of the DB through holiday decorations, snacks, and a smile for everyone. For these reasons, and so many more, Louise Carr is an example for all to follow.
street. He routinely goes above
Officer Ryan Eddings joined the Redford Township Police Department in March of 2022, after 4 years of prior law enforcement experience. In these short 3 years here at RTPD, Officer Eddings has not encountered a challenge that he has not overcome or an assignment that he has turned down. As a motivated member of road patrol, Officer Eddings has increased the safety of our community utilizing his skills and knowledge to take guns and criminals off the and beyond on calls, turning basic reports into investigative opportunities to assist the Detective Bureau. Most importantly, Officer Eddings is a mentor to newer officers, both as a Field Training Officer, and also as a leader on his shift ready assist those around him. Officer Eddings is an integral part of the Recruitment Team utilizing his network to personally bring additional officers to RTPD and his contagious positivity and dedication to the department at recruitment events to encourage others to join us. Officer Eddings prides himself on growing up in Redford Township and strides to make an impact in his community. Only a few months after joining RTPD, Officer Eddings began attending Neighborhood Watch and Coffee with a Cop events, building relationships within the community. These relationships not only assisted in growing the residents’ trust in police but also has lead to information that resulted in resolutions to criminal activity. Officer Eddings did not stop his efforts at just attending these events and has now taken over the coordination and leadership of the Neighborhood Watch and National Night Out programs and co-leads the Coffee with a Cop program. As a member of the RTPD Social Media Team, Officer Eddings shines a positive light on the department online and provides education to citizens. Outside of work, Officer Eddings continues to dedicate time to Redford Township through coaching youth basketball at St. Valentine and active participation with the St. Valentine Men’s Club and Ancient order of Hibernians.
Arlie Caudill began his service with our department on April 20, 2016. Since then, he has exemplified the values and qualities of a true firefighter: integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment.
Over the years, Firefighter Caudill has proven to be a reliable and steady presence in the department. He approaches every shift with a strong work ethic and positive attitude and a team-first mentality that elevates those around him. His calm demeanor, technical skill, and readiness to respond under pressure have made him a trusted colleague and a vital asset to this community and the fire department.
Beyond the calls and training drills, Arlie has also contributed to the spirit and strength of our department. Arlie’s relentless pursuit of excellence in training, his leadership in the field, and his ability to remain calm and effective in the most stressful situations have set him apart as a firefighter who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Whether responding to emergency calls, mentoring fellow firefighters, or volunteering in community outreach programs, Arlie has demonstrated a level of commitment that reflects the very best of our department's values.
His passion for firefighting and his desire to help others have earned him the respect and admiration of his peers, officers, and the people he serves. Arlie’s contributions go beyond just the tasks at hand; he has continuously inspired others through his work ethic, his compassionate spirit, and his leadership by example. Thank you for your dedication, your courage, and your service. You have truly made a difference, and we look forward to many more years of continued excellence.
Officer Ryan Plymel has been with RTPD for approximately 4 years. Prior to working at RTPD Officer Plymel worked for the Detroit Police Department after successfully graduating from the Detroit Metropolitan Police Academy.
Officer Plymel received 3 departmental awards in 2024 (two commendation awards and one life- saving award). Although this is his first time being selected as Officer of The Year, it is not his first time receiving an award. Officer Plymel has received multiple departmental awards every year since he began his career and many here at RTPD. In addition to his awards, Officer Plymel has displayed an exemplary workethic since he began working for RTPD. Officer Plymel is known for his consistent traffic stops and utilizing a variety of investigative techniques to root out criminal activity. Always willing to go the extra mile to assist his fellow officers and his drive to locate and stop dangerous individuals made Officer Plymel an easy choice for this award. When not at work, Officer Plymel can be found watching his beloved Detroit Lions, golfing, or lifting weights. Most important to Officer Plymel, however, is his family. Ryan and his wife Erica (also a Redford Township Police Officer) have a 10-year-old daughter, Sydnee, and twin 1- year old girls (Kaylee and Rylee) who are the light of their lives.
Max joined the Redford Township Fire Dept in 2022 with a true passion for the fire service and has made the most out of his short time with us. Max obtained his Fire Science Degree from Lake Superior State and was a member of a small department Up North in the UP before joining us in Redford. Max came to us eager to learn and become a better paramedic/firefighter. He quickly became involved with our social media and recruiting events held around the area at local high schools and colleges, as well as attending fire academies and paramedic classes to help bring new members here to Redford. His work has been instrumental in getting the word out about Redford and increasing our recruitment to levels we haven't seen in years. Max's continued community outreach and work on public safety education will have a lasting impact for years to come. Around the station, Max's work ethic remains strong, and is always eager to do extra training on his normal workdays along with being one of the first guys to attend training on his days off to continue his education. Max has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the department and continues to go above and beyond in training, his mentorship to new guys, and his overall positive attitude towards the job. The department is proud to select Max Sawickyj as this year's Firefighter of the Year.
