The West Bloomfield Police Department sent the following press release Friday:

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 at the West Bloomfield Public Library, The West Bloomfield African American Parent Association hosted their 2011-2012 school year kick-off meeting. In addition to the group’s general business and school information for parents and students, Chief Michael Patton was honored by the group.  

President Brian Flaggs presented Chief Patton with a plaque for Sincere Appreciation for his Outstanding Dedication and Commitment to the West Bloomfield Community. This recognition was due not only to Chief Patton’s overall service to the community but also for his lead on the anti-violence campaign for youth that Chief Patton organized this past summer following a tragic incident that occurred in West Bloomfield. Chief Patton reached out to the WBAAPA as well as the ADL, the NAACP, the Friendship Circle, and the West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills and Walled Lake School Districts. Several meetings were held at the West Bloomfield Police Department over the summer where the attendance from these various organizations grew as more meetings were held.

An agreement among all sectors of the Greater West Bloomfield Community was that we need to celebrate the diverse community we live in as well as support initiatives that inspire our youth to resolve conflict in a way that allows everyone’s voices to be heard. The Friendship Circle’s Defeat the Label anti-bullying campaign and the ADL’s No Place for Hate campaign will engage our youth in the respective school districts this coming school year.

For more information regarding this initiative contact Sgt. Tara Kane at 248-975-9200.