Police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who work hard every single day safeguarding the lives and property of Oxford residents were honored for their efforts Sunday afternoon during a special awards ceremony hosted by Oxford American Legion Post 108.
Following a delicious buffet dinner, certificates of appreciation were presented to members of the Oxford Fire Department, Oxford Village Police Department and Oakland County Sheriff’s Oxford Township substation.
One by one, their names were called and they were escorted to and from the stage by Legion Junior Auxiliary members Aurora Rathnow, Raegan Fletcher, Angelina Bailo and Madison Muller. A list of everyone who received certificates is on Page 14.
A member of each public safety agency was singled out to receive special honors for their commitment to their job, service to the community and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Ben Horton was honored as ‘Most Outstanding Firefighter of the Year,? while village Police Sgt. Mike Solwold and sheriff’s Deputy Jim Willyard were both named ‘Most Outstanding Police Officer of the Year.?
Firefighter Ben Horton
Fire Chief Pete Scholz selected Horton for this award because although he’s not an officer, he regularly takes on extra, behind-the-scenes responsibilities without being asked and without expecting additional pay.
For example, Horton voluntarily oversees the on-line shift scheduling for paid-on-call staff members, who are the backbone of the department.
‘Thank you for your good work,? Scholz said.
Horton has served as a paid-on-call firefighter and emergency medical technician since 2006, the same year he graduated from Oxford High School.
‘It means a lot (to win this award),? he told this reporter. ‘I try to do my best for the department. It means a lot that all the hard work and time I put in on my own was recognized and is appreciated by the men and women I work with. They appreciate it and I appreciate this.?
Horton is following in the footsteps of his father, Fire Lt. Brad Horton, who’s been with the department since 1985.
‘I enjoy serving the community and protecting everyone out there,? Horton said. ‘I enjoy giving back to the community that I grew up in.?
Horton is currently training to become a paramedic. His goal is to become a full-time firefighter.
Papa couldn’t be prouder of his son.
‘Happy, very happy? is how a beaming Brad Horton summed up his feelings about watching his son receive this honor.
Village Police Sgt. Mike Solwold
Solwold, an Oxford police officer since 1993, is no stranger to earning this award. He received it in February 2013 for his service in the prior year.
Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski explained why he once again selected Solwold for this special recognition.
‘Sgt. Solwold has continued his superior performance in all aspects of his duties,? he said. ‘Sgt. Solwold exemplifies what it means to be a leader and is a role model to all.?
The chief cited two examples.
One was the ‘firm commitment? and ‘compassion? Solwold demonstrated by spearheading the effort to finally get community recognition for John ‘Jay? Gould, the 52-year-old Oxford Village nightwatchman who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 13, 1925.
Gould was ‘shot down in cold blood,? the Leader reported, at 3 a.m. outside the Oxford Savings Bank (now the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum) at the corner of Burdick and Washington streets.
Though his killers were never identified and brought to justice, there are those who believe Gould was slain by Prohibition-era bootleggers, quite possibly members of Detroit’s infamous Purple Gang, which reportedly had a hangout by Stony Lake.
For 90 years, Gould’s body rested in an unmarked grave in the Oxford Township cemetery on the south side of W. Burdick St.
Solwold took it upon himself to right this wrong. He, along with retired Oxford Police Capt. Jim Malcolm, secured enough donations to finally purchase a headstone. It was placed last April and a special ceremony honoring Gould was held the following month.
As if that wasn’t enough, Solwold and Malcolm also got a plaque placed on the exterior of the historical museum commemorating Gould’s ultimate sacrifice for the community.
Solwold further demonstrated his dedication to keeping Oxford safe via a significant drug bust in the village.
In August 2015, the sergeant received a tip that a large amount of marijuana was being cultivated at a village residence on East St.
Solwold investigated and discovered ?15 mature marijuana plants? were growing in the backyard, according to Neymanowski.
‘They were very big,? Solwold said. ‘They were taller than me . . . I tried to yank them out of the ground and I couldn’t . . . It was like trying to yank a tree out of the ground.?
‘Sixty-five pounds of plant material (was) confiscated (with) an approximate value of $40,000,? Neymanowski told the crowd.
Charges were issued and an arrest made.
‘It’s still going through the court process,? Solwold said.
The sergeant was grateful for the award, but being the humble guy he is, the sergeant was more interested in acknowledging and praising the ‘fine staff? he works with every day.
‘I couldn’t do this without everybody,? he told the crowd.
Following the ceremony, Solwold told this reporter, ‘It’s always an honor (to win this). It’s very humbling,?
‘There’s many other people that deserve this award,? he said. ‘I wouldn’t have this award if it wasn’t for the men and women that work for the department, from the top to the bottom. Thank you very much.?
Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Willyard
Willyard, a deputy since 1988, was selected for the award by Sheriff’s Lt. Scott Patterson, commander of the Oxford Township substation.
Patterson, who’s served with Willyard for 27 years, praised the exemplary work ethic and ‘down-to-earth? attitude he brings to his job on a daily basis.
‘Just about every year, I get a letter from a citizen thanking him for his professionalism on a call,? the lieutenant said.
Willyard, who’s been assigned to the Oxford substation for nine years, is appreciated by his fellow officers as well.
‘He’s a team player,? Patterson said. ?(He) never, ever complains.?
The lieutenant noted it was a ‘no-brainer? to nominate Willyard for this award.
‘I’m flattered that I was chosen (from) among a group of guys who are all deserving of it,? Willyard told this reporter. ‘To me, I’m just doing my job. I don’t think I did anything special, but I’m grateful that I was honored with this award.?
Accolades for an officer’s response
Following the awards presentation, Scholz called village Police Officer Sean Brown to the stage to praise the way he responded to a Feb. 16 fire at Village Manor Apartments off Pontiac St. The apartment fire claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman who died from smoke inhalation.
‘Sean was on patrol. He heard it get dispatched to us. He responded on his own to the call,? Scholz said. ‘He was one of the first ones to go into the building and actually tried to make a rescue. The (apartment) door was open, but there was so much smoke, he wasn’t able to get in.?
‘He then proceeded to go around the entire building, knocking on every single door, to make sure (people got) safely out of the building,? Scholz continued.
The chief said Brown stayed on scene after the victim was removed from the apartment and ‘rendered aid as needed.?
Scholz wished to publicly acknowledge the work Brown did that morning and say, ‘Thank you very much.?

Certificate recipients
Oxford Fire Dept. ? Brad Schick, Pete Scholz, Amanda McBride, Alan Adorjan, Brent Ludwig, Darin Balinski, Steven Giroux, Tim Haynes, Jonathan Jones, Gary Belcher, Mitch Bischer, Sarah Racer, Bradley Horton, David Creech, Benjamin Parshall, Eric Stanton, Kevin Snell, Benjamin Horton, Tonya Perreault, Dan Flanders, Anthony Graybill, Richard Dvorak, Benjamin Frantz, Ronald Jahlas, Ryan McLeod, Rusty Fallin, Rob Fitzpatrick, Justin Templeton, Randy Darnell, Marcus Laponse, Kelly Kilgore, Benjamin Stapp, Kurt Fechter, Jeff Stephens, Blair Lockwood, Nancy Hunger, Cody Roop, Matthew Wright, Anthony Bono & James Rondy.

Oxford Village Police ? Mike Neymanowski, Mike Solwold, Clint Ascroft, David Churchill, Joe Alex, Paula Grech, Mike Ersig, Sean Brown, James Farris, Brian Martinez, Mike Debano, Brian Schick, Phil Humphrey, Rob Chupick, Gene Faermark, Mike Smith, Kaethe Davis, James Owens, John Drake, James Sommers, Keith Anderson, David Zanin, Ron Calvaneso, Richard Chauvin, Jacob Wainz, Keith Redlin, Tony VanHouten, Debbie O’Farrell, Justin Moser, Laura Piercey, Joshua Darling, JoAnne Edmonds, Robyn Zanin, Krista Lester, Pat Marriott, Pat Fry, Dave Gerber & Steve Porter.

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office ? Scott Patterson, Jerry Derosia, Shane Freiberg, Charles Farley, Jeff Ford, Jim Willyard, Sherry Prose, Earl Griem, Sheri Will, Jason Louwaert, Dave Slazinski, Pat Yens, Ritchie Kelly, Amy Wakerley, Brad Ostrander & Lori Collier.