Police Observe Sacrifices, Dedicate Memorial
In honor of 173 American police officers killed in the line of duty in 2011, the community gathered outside of police headquarters Thursday.
Michael Patton
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
K-9 Police Memorial to be Dedicated Thursday
Project to build bronze statue memorial to K-9 officers at West Bloomfield Police Department led by Brother Rice student.
An Eagle Scout project by the son of a West Bloomfield Police Department Officer to memorialize K-9 officers was completed last week and will be dedicated at a ceremony Thursday. Joshua Geary, a student at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice High School, chronicled his work to achieve the elite rank through status updates and photos on a Facebook page. The project, built through the month of April with help from community donations, will be dedicated at 12 noon at an annual ceremony dedicated to American law enforcement killed in the line of duty. Read More: Whiz Kid: Geary Plans to Build K-9 Memorial In a January interview, Geary, of Waterford, said that he was inspired by the police dogs which were once handled by his father, Ofc. Jim Geary, …
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Whiz Kid: Geary Plans to Build K-9 Memorial
With dreams of becoming a veterinarian and hopes of becoming an Eagle Scout, Joshua Geary has big plans for the West Bloomfield Police Department.
Each week, West Bloomfield Patch features students doing amazing things in their schools and in their communities. Do you know our next Whiz Kid? West Bloomfield Patch welcomes suggestions for students, youth groups and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to editor Tim.Rath@patch.com. Please include all these details:
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Diversity of Police Services Offered Depends on Millage Vote, Chief Says
Police Chief Michael Patton said residents expect a lot from the department and that they get a lot in return. What do you think?
Tuesday's election is drawing closer every day, but as voters, what do we know about what is really being asked of us? Patch will interview police and fire chiefs, township officials and taxpaying citizens during the ramp-up to the vote on proposals for a public safety millage renewal — and an increase — to help explain where your money goes and why. In West Bloomfield, we'll vote on a 10-year renewal of the township’s existing public safety millage at its current rate of 3.1378 mills, and in a separate ballot question, we'll vote on an 11-year increase of 2.85 mills. A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. The owner of property with a taxable value of $100,000 (about $200,000 market value) currently pays $313…
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sergeant Disciplined Over Controversial Traffic Stop Incident
Fallout from Aug. 13 incident involving the West Bloomfield Township supervisor and her husband continued Thursday.
A West Bloomfield Police Department sergeant was disciplined in the wake of a controversial late night traffic stop of the township supervisor and her husband, Chief Michael Patton said Thursday. West Bloomfield Police Department documents released to West Bloomfield Patch last week under a Freedom of Information request reveal details of the Aug. 13 incident involving Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and her husband, Matthew, as well as the internal investigation of the officers involved. Matthew Ureste failed a preliminary breath test with a .11 blood-alcohol content, which is above the 0.08 legal limit, while Sgt. Eric Gruenwald was working as a shift supervisor, a four-page case report states. Officer Robert Stephens gave …
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sergeant Investigated, Officer Begins Suspension Over Controversial Traffic Stop
Fallout from Aug. 13 incident involving the West Bloomfield Township supervisor and her husband continues.
A West Bloomfield police officer began a five-day unpaid suspension this week while his shift supervisor's actions are being investigated in the wake of a controversial late night traffic stop involving the township supervisor and her husband. West Bloomfield Police Department documents released to West Bloomfield Patch on Tuesday reveal details of the Aug. 13 incident involving Township Supervisor Michele Ureste and her husband, Matthew, as well as the internal investigation of the officers involved. Matthew Ureste failed a preliminary breath test with a .11 blood-alcohol content, which is above the 0.08 legal limit, after West Bloomfield police officer Robert Stephens pulled him over for running a flashing red light about 2:20 a.m. Aug. …
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LB
5:03 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I didn't get that far in the report yet. Thanks for the heads up. :) more ›
Monday, August 29, 2011
Firefighters, Police and Command Officers Take Cuts in New Contract Agreements
The West Bloomfield Fire Department and Police Department union members were lauded by township officials Monday at Town Hall.
The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees approved tentative agreements with public safety unions at its meeting Monday in Town Hall. All of the agreements will have to be ratified by the independent bargaining units. The bargaining units representing the West Bloomfield Professional Fire Fighters Union, IAFF Local 1721, as well as the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Command Officers Association of Michigan union members were lauded by the township board for making numerous concessions in their new deals. "They made substantial concessions on health care, on new fire department employees," said Trustee Larry Brown of the West Bloomfield Fire Department. "There was no public fight. This was done in a professional manner…
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JamesK
9:24 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What a great way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of 911! How well the Twp Board has forgotten the trajic events of only 10 years past. We, the public, are supposed to take care of our public servants. Men and woman who serve in the worst of times, who work weekends, nights and holidays for you to be safe in your home! You should be ashamed by your conduct on this contract! What is worse, these … more ›
Township Board Meeting Turns Into Standoff Over Police Stop
Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and her husband defend themselves from charges and personal attacks stemming from Aug. 13 traffic stop.
Allegations of favoritism, corruption, political vendetta and pre-election gamesmanship dominated as residents, police and elected officials aired their opinions on a police traffic stop involving the township supervisor and her husband before Monday's meeting of the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees. On Aug. 13, a car driven by Matthew Ureste, husband of Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste, was pulled over for running a flashing red light. No arrest was made or ticket given in connection with the incident even though Matthew Ureste admitted to the officer he had been drinking and then failed a preliminary breath test. Instead, Officer Robert Stephens gave the couple a ride home. Last week, Stephens was served with an …
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detroit masters
11:52 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The on scene police officer stated" I was scared the township supervisor would use this incident for payback against the police department" That in itself proves the officer was/is clearly aware of the true nature of the Ureste's. Why should the police officer have a fear of retribution unless they have insider information of past strong arming tactics.I cant for the life of me fathom how anyone … more ›
Supervisor's Husband to Defend Traffic Stop Treatment at Board Meeting Tonight
Matthew Ureste claims a "robo-call" sent to West Bloomfield residents Sunday night is a "political attack."
In an attempt to defend his name and his wife's reputation, the husband of West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste is expected to address the Board of Trustees tonight about the perception that he received favorable treatment from local police during a recent traffic stop. Matthew Ureste was pulled over for running a red light with his wife in the passenger seat about 2:20 a.m. Aug. 13. The officer said he smelled alcohol, Police Chief Michael Patton said, and the driver admitted to drinking before going home from a Kid Rock concert in Detroit. The driver was given a preliminary breath test, and blew over the legal limit of .08, Patton said. The two were then driven home rather than to the police station where a more …
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Timothy Rath
4:00 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
A comment was deleted from this story for violating the Patch terms of service. more ›
Mike Cee
2:07 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Chief do you have a plan if the vote fails? How many officers will we loose under either or both circumstances. And how much did getting $39,200 cost us in officers and their overtime for those DEA assignments you've mentioned? more ›