Saturday, December 13, 2008
News
Law enforcement group honors its own
Argus-Press Photo by Anthony Cepak Morrice teachers Rob Alleman and Katy Jarrad, pictured above teaching during their first-period classes, are the new interim co-principals at Morrice Junior/Senior High School.
By NATHAN BRUTTELL Argus-Press Staff Writer
OWOSSO - Members of Shiawassee County Area Law Enforcement (SCALE) honored four officers during its last meeting of the year Thursday.
Chairman and Byron Police Chief Tim Sampey presented the awards to Michigan State Police Troopers John Gooch and Michael Philipps, Corunna Police Chief Kim Williams and Shiawassee County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Jason Duffield during the group's monthly meeting.
About 30 law enforcement officials attended the meeting. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Michigan State Police and U.S. Marshals Service joined the police chiefs from Owosso, Corunna, Perry, Lennon, Byron, Morrice and Laingsburg to honor the officers for their work.
“These are four officers who did an outstanding job throughout the year,” Sampey said. “I'm sure there are others who deserve recognition but these four I know need to be mentioned.”
Sampey said Gooch and Philipps were honored for heroic efforts that led to the arrest of a Saginaw man wanted for questioning in connection with the death of his wife Nov. 25.
“Their extraordinary arrest led to the recovery and safe return of three children,” he said. “We don't have many arrests like that. It was their keen sense of observation and training that kicked in as far as tactics in the arrest.”
Gooch and Philipps arrested Jose Angel Olguin, 35, in the parking lot of a medical facility on North M-52 in Owosso Township.
Trooper Gooch described the scene in November.
“We ordered him out of the vehicle, but he put the car in drive and started to pull forward,” Gooch said. “We then shattered the window and ordered him out. He got out of the car and we arrested him without incident. He just gave up peacefully.”
Sampey also presented Williams and Duffield with awards in recognition of their efforts at the Meadowview Apartments fire in Corunna March 27.
All of the approximately 30 residents made it out of the building safely. Williams described the scene this way:
“I got dispatched up there in reference to a structure fire. When I got there, the middle and upper levels of the building were fully involved. People were running and yelling all over. We weren't sure if anyone was inside still or not. So I called and asked for assistance and then I entered the building. I found a lady inside and I got her out. (Duffield) got there right after and we made sure everybody got out. It got hot and smoky real quick. On the west side of the building, I found a guy who had collapsed. So I carried him away from the building and made sure he got medical attention. We all got real lucky that day.”
Williams added he was extremely honored to be presented with the award as selected by his peers.
“We were just doing our jobs,” Williams said. “It touches you when guys do that for you because it doesn't happen often. It's real hard to describe how I feel.”
Sampey said the selection was easy because he believed the work of Williams and Duffield led to all of the residents making it out of the building safely.
“They entered a burning building and their actions, we believe, were directly involved with saving the lives of the apartment residents,” Sampey said. “It was their selfless acts that saved those citizens. They did an outstanding job.”
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.
Chairman and Byron Police Chief Tim Sampey presented the awards to Michigan State Police Troopers John Gooch and Michael Philipps, Corunna Police Chief Kim Williams and Shiawassee County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Jason Duffield during the group's monthly meeting.
About 30 law enforcement officials attended the meeting. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Michigan State Police and U.S. Marshals Service joined the police chiefs from Owosso, Corunna, Perry, Lennon, Byron, Morrice and Laingsburg to honor the officers for their work.
“These are four officers who did an outstanding job throughout the year,” Sampey said. “I'm sure there are others who deserve recognition but these four I know need to be mentioned.”
Sampey said Gooch and Philipps were honored for heroic efforts that led to the arrest of a Saginaw man wanted for questioning in connection with the death of his wife Nov. 25.
“Their extraordinary arrest led to the recovery and safe return of three children,” he said. “We don't have many arrests like that. It was their keen sense of observation and training that kicked in as far as tactics in the arrest.”
Gooch and Philipps arrested Jose Angel Olguin, 35, in the parking lot of a medical facility on North M-52 in Owosso Township.
Trooper Gooch described the scene in November.
“We ordered him out of the vehicle, but he put the car in drive and started to pull forward,” Gooch said. “We then shattered the window and ordered him out. He got out of the car and we arrested him without incident. He just gave up peacefully.”
Sampey also presented Williams and Duffield with awards in recognition of their efforts at the Meadowview Apartments fire in Corunna March 27.
All of the approximately 30 residents made it out of the building safely. Williams described the scene this way:
“I got dispatched up there in reference to a structure fire. When I got there, the middle and upper levels of the building were fully involved. People were running and yelling all over. We weren't sure if anyone was inside still or not. So I called and asked for assistance and then I entered the building. I found a lady inside and I got her out. (Duffield) got there right after and we made sure everybody got out. It got hot and smoky real quick. On the west side of the building, I found a guy who had collapsed. So I carried him away from the building and made sure he got medical attention. We all got real lucky that day.”
Williams added he was extremely honored to be presented with the award as selected by his peers.
“We were just doing our jobs,” Williams said. “It touches you when guys do that for you because it doesn't happen often. It's real hard to describe how I feel.”
Sampey said the selection was easy because he believed the work of Williams and Duffield led to all of the residents making it out of the building safely.
“They entered a burning building and their actions, we believe, were directly involved with saving the lives of the apartment residents,” Sampey said. “It was their selfless acts that saved those citizens. They did an outstanding job.”
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.