Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Council Approves Contact Extension for Police Officer Liaison at John Glenn High School

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

Council Approves Contact Extension for Police Officer Liaison at John Glenn High School

Westland, MI - The Westland City Council approved the extension of the annual agreement between the City of Westland and Wayne-Westland Community Schools to provide match funding for the Police Officer Liaison position at John Glenn High School for the 2018-2019 school year.

The agreement, which splits the cost of the officer between the City and the school district, was first implemented in 2007. Westland Police Officer Joseph Reardon will fill the position.

Officer Reardon has served on the Westland Police Department for 7 years. He is a mental health and first aid instructor as well as a member of the Honor Guard.

" The police liaison officer interacts daily with students and provides opportunities to build positive relationships throughout the school and assist in removing the negative stigma associated with law enforcement," commented Wayne-Westland Superintendent Dr. Holt. "This school year we are beginning the process of training our educators and liaison officer in restorative justice to assist in building relationships that support our students and our school district which help support a strong community. We are fortunate to work closely with the City of Westland to provide this Liaison Officer program in our district and community."

"Liaison officers are responsible for ensuring the safety of students and staff both during school hours and at special events," commented Mayor Wild. "One of the most important duties of a liaison officer is to help build a trust between students and law enforcement, which allows law enforcement to intercept problems before they escalate."

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

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 of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 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.