Quick reaction and teamwork led to the apprehension of two suspects in a Nov. 20 armed robbery in which a Ferndale man was fired upon.

It also led to honors for eight department employees and two Oakland County sheriff's deputies for their part in the arrests.

Officers John Cleveland and David Spellman received departmental citations for their work in apprehending the suspects, who are now awaiting trial in the Oakland County Jail.

Others, including Ferndale Lt. Gary Whiting; Sgt. Baron Brown; officers Brian Frazier and Jason Collett; dispatcher Robert McDonald and Cadet Carlos Cordova; and sheriff's deputies Saman Marzban and Gary Murray, received unit citations for their work assisting in the arrests.

"It was a good team effort that took two bad men off the streets," Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins said in presenting the awards during this week's council meeting.

The victim agreed.

"You can't do enough to honor these guys," said Ferndale resident Paul Schuffet, who attended the ceremony.

Schuffet was walking home from the store about 9:30 p.m. carrying a 12-pack of beer when the suspects approached him, police said.

One of the men fired a .45 caliber handgun at him at close range but missed, before both men took off running.

Cleveland caught the first man at Woodward and Marshall.

The second man, who was armed, continued running before being caught by Spellman outside a Woodward Avenue fast food restaurant about two blocks east.

Noting one of the suspects was armed, Collins lauded Cleveland and Spellman for putting themselves in harm's way while responding to the call.

"We're just glad we got them," Cleveland said.