For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36601 Ford Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Recognizes Police Officer of the Year, Swears in New Hire and Promotions and K9 "Friday" Retires

Westland, MI - The Westland Police Department recognized Officer Eric Rodriguez as their 2013 Police Officer of the Year at the City Council meeting on Monday, April 21. Westland also hired a new officer, promoted three veteran officers, and retired Police K9 "Friday."

Officer Rodriguez, the recipient of the 2013 Police Officer of the Year Award, has served the Westland Police Department for thirteen years, and worked for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department for eight years prior to Westland. Rodriguez serves in various capacities, including working as a Field Training Officer, a member of the Tactical Response Team, and as a patrol officer.

Chief Jeff Jedrusik said that this accomplishment reflects Rodriguez's work not only over the last year, but the past several years. "Officer Rodriguez is the constant professional that comes to work on a daily basis and exceeds expectations," said Chief Jedrusik. "He is an officer who the new guys look up to for guidance, and he has been a great asset for our department over the past several years."

James Compton, a lifelong Westland resident, was sworn in as Westland's newest police officer. Compton is a 2007 graduate of John Glenn High School, where he participated in the Westland Police Explorer program. He was hired by the Detroit Police Department in 2008, and subsequently graduated from their Police Academy. With the Detroit Police, Compton served in several divisions and earned two Departmental and Chief Citation awards.

Officer of the Year Rodriguez
with Mayor Wild

Sergeant Matthew Price was promoted to Lieutenant on Monday, and Officers Patrick Boucher and Joseph Bobby were both promoted to Sergeant. Price has seventeen years of service under his belt with Westland. He has served in several positions throughout his tenure, including undercover work. Sergeant Price has been assigned to the Detective Bureau for the past three years.

Officer Boucher has served the Westland Police Department for seventeen years, working as a Department Field Training Officer in the Patrol Division. He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Officer Bobby has served Westland for fifteen years, and previously worked for the Hamtramck and Redford Police Departments. He received the 2000 Humanitarian of the Year Award for rescuing a dog from a house fire, and also the 2013 Westland Jaycee's Young Person of the Year Award. Officer Bobby has served as a NorWayne Community Police Officer, and as a K9 handler since 2005.

One of those K9s, named "Friday," was retired at Monday's Council meeting. K9 Friday started with the department in 2006, and has seized over $1 million in drugs and drug proceeds in his eight years of service.

Officer Bobby & Friday

"We are fortunate to have a great Police Department here in Westland, and tonight's council meeting, with a Police Officer of the Year, promotions of veteran officers, a new hire, and the retiring of an excellent K9, shows our department's excellence," said Mayor Bill Wild.

"I want to congratulate all of the police officers on their achievements and promotions tonight, and I look forward to your continued service to our community," added Mayor Wild. "And thank you to our trusted K9, Friday, who has no doubt been one of the most well-trained K9's the department has seen."

Chief Jedrusik, Officers Rodriguez, Bobby, Price, Boucher, Compton, & Mayor Wild

The City of Westland is the 10th largest city in Michigan with a population of over 84,000. The city's residential development is an excellent blend of single family homes, apartments and condominiums. The broad selection of housing opportunities is complimented by over 1500 acres of well-maintained parks and nature trails as well as a highly rated municipal golf course. Also available is a skate park, ice arena, a state-of-the-art Library and novel city park themes that are fun and family-friendly.

Westland has the location, land, infrastructure, and leadership, under Mayor William R. Wild to attract new industry and help existing businesses redevelop properties and to maintain competitiveness in today's global economy. Six modern platted industrial parks on 320 acres are served by class "A" internal roads, with up to date utilities and rail access available within two of the parks. Westland is conveniently located within the center of southeastern Michigan's expressway system, minutes north of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and ideally located between downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Westland is the area's premier "Shopping and Dining Destination". Westland Shopping center, one of the country's original four regional malls, boasts 80 retail stores and has anchored Westland's commercial district for more than 30 years. Westland's diversity and progressive planning offers residents a wide variety of life experiences, and make Westland truly the "All American City".