Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Recognizes Officer of the Year

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Recognizes Officer of the Year

Westland - Each year the City of Westland recognizes one police officer as the Westland Police Officer of the Year. This individual officer is recognized, not only for his or her acts of outstanding police service, but also for being a true professional and a department leader. The award was given on Friday, February 3 at the Westland Police Department Annual Award Ceremony. This year's recipient is Officer Jason Soulliere.

Soulliere is 32 years old and has served on the Westland Police Department for 4 years.

"Officer Soulliere is regularly one of the Westland Police Department's top performers," commented Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik. "He is a highly motivated police officer who makes a large number of self-initiated arrests and routinely performs his duties in a professional manner.

Jedrusik went on to explain a particular example of Soulliere's dedication that occurred on Christmas Eve. The officer drove past a Family Dollar store that was recently robbed and noticed a vehicle in the parking lot that was matched to the description of a vehicle suspected in other robberies. Soulliere parked and watched the vehicle and observed a subject exit the store and leave the parking lot in the vehicle. He began to follow the vehicle at which time dispatch advised that the Family Dollar store had just been robbed by a subject with a gun. Souilliere attempted to stop the vehicle which then fled from him. Despite terrible road conditions, he was able to pursue the subject in a safe manner. The suspect recklessly crashed the vehicle and then fled on foot. After a lengthy foot pursuit, Officer Soulliere was able to capture the armed robber. The subject was found to be a suspect in several other robberies, not only in Westland, but in the surrounding communities as well.

"Officer Soulliere's actions took an armed, violent felon, off of our streets," commented Mayor Wild. "We owe him a debt of gratitude for exercising exceptional instincts and for his continued commitment to the safety of those in the Westland community."

Past Westland Police Officers of the Year

2016 Jason Soulliere

2015 Jonathan Mamrot

2014 Cale Furney
2013 Eric Rodriguez

2012 Bryan Jachym

2011 Burke Lange

2010 David Archambeau

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.