Crime & Safety

Police Department Honors Officers, City Employee for Crime Fighting

Sixteen officers and one resident were recognized Monday night for their work in apprehending "bad guys," as Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins said.

Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins handed out 15 Unit Commendations, one Department Citation and one Citizen Award Monday night for individuals who are serving and protecting the streets of Ferndale.

Citizen Award

For the Citizen Award recipient, Joseph Piro, it's not even his job to serve and protect Ferndale, but he did it anyway.

Piro is a code enforcement officer for Ferndale. He witnessed a purse snatching in progress around 2:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the corner of Bermuda and East Nine Mile Road. A man walked passed two women sitting on the patio of the , .

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Because of the action taken by Piro, this crime was stopped within seconds without anyone injured," the award recommendation said. "The suspect, who had a long criminal history, was taken off the streets as a result of the actions by Piro who, without hesitation, responded to a crime in progress at personal risk to himself."

Read about Piro's Citizen Award here. Read more about the incident .

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ferndale Pharmacy Armed Robbery Commendations

Collins also presented 10 unit commendations to the officers involved in investigating the July 11 armed robbery of the on West Nine Mile road.

while one waited in a minivan outside as the getaway driver. As the two men entered to rob the place, a .

Dispatcher Robert MacDonald was able to locate the call within 100 feet, and officers from Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Royal Oak and Oak Park responded to the call, Collins said.

Despite a car chase into Detroit following the getaway driver, officers were able to apprehend all three men involved in the incident and did so without injury.

The two men inside the pharmacy had hog-tied the employees, hit one with a gun and robbed the place of money and prescription drugs but were apprehended shortly after exiting the pharmacy, according to police.

"Without these gentleman and ladies back here," -- referring to the officers standing behind him at Monday's Council meeting -- "we wouldn't have been able to put some serious, serious bad people behind bars," Collins said.

Read the officers' names and the commendation here. Read Ferndale Patch's coverage of the armed robbery here.

Father's Day armed robbery commendations

The officers involved in the apprehension of the suspects involved in an armed robbery June 19, Father's Day, also received recognition. Collins passed out five unit commendations and one department citation.

A 55-year-old victim of an armed robbery flagged down Ferndale Police Officer Edward Ungerman early June 19. The officer was on scene quickly enough for the victim to point to the suspect. Ungerman saw the suspect throw something into a Dodge Stratus. When Ungerman asked the suspect to stop, the suspect took off on foot.

The officer pursued the suspect, who eventually jumped into the rear driver's side of the Stratus. It was at this point that Ungerman pulled his patrol car in front of the vehicle, exited and ordered the suspects to lie on the ground. They complied.

Officers searched the car and found a loaded .40-caliber handgun and a loaded pistol grip shotgun, as well as the money they believed was stolen from the victim.

"These two individuals were father and son, and the crime happened on Father's Day," Collins said. "When (Detective Brendan) Moore came and spoke to the suspects, they both had confessed to the crimes. These were serious, serious bad guys."

Read the list of officers' names and the commendation here. Read about the incident .

"On behalf of a grateful city, thank you, chief, and everyone who performed for our citizens," Mayor Dave Coulter said after the presentation.


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