Back in the early 1970s, Mike Bono followed his dreams and tried to become a police officer.
‘It was something that I’ve always wanted to do,? said the 51-year-old Oxford Village resident.
Although he passed the state police written exam twice, the politics surrounding hiring in those days prevented him from protecting and serving the public for a living. So, he chose a different career path and started a family.
Thirty-some years later Bono finally achieved his dream in July by becoming a reserve officer for the Oxford Village Police Department.
‘I figured at my age right now, if I didn’t do it, it wasn’t going to happen,? he said. ‘I’m proud to wear this uniform and be part of the community. To have this opportunity means a whole lot to me.?
Bono was among four reserve officers added to the village force. The others were Robert Griffith, Michael Smith and Kaethe Hampel.
But Bono didn’t just walk into the department, take a badge out of the box and hit the streets.
From the end of February through the end of June, he juggled career, family, coaching and reserve officer classes.
‘The hardest thing was trying to do everything,? he said.
By day, Bono is an outside contractor at the General Motors plant in Orion who oversees a $1.5 to $2 million contract involving cleaning, maintenance, etc.
After work, during the spring, he coaches Oxford’s junior varsity girls fast pitch softball team, something he’s done for the last six years.
In between, he’s a family man to his wife of 32 years, Pat, and daughters Sam and Megan.
Pat is secretary to Oxford’s superintendent. Sam, a senior at OHS, is one of the top five soccer players in Oakland County. Megan is in her third year at Michigan State University, where she’s studying to become a veterinarian.
To keep up with his busy life and still achieve his dream, Bono said he was awake until at least 2 or 3 a.m. every night studying for his reserve officer class.
Often, he would get home from coaching away games around 10 or 10: 30 p.m., grab a bite to eat, then hit the books.
‘There wasn’t a week you didn’t have an exam,? he said. ‘I didn’t think I was going to get through it. I really didn’t.?
In the end, all his hard work and studying paid off.
‘I had the highest score on the final exam,? Bono said. ‘Out of 400 questions I scored a 99.5 percent.?
‘I was in the top 10 of the class,? said Bono, noting about 2? to 3 points was all that separated first from 10th in the class rankings. ‘That’s how tight it was.?
Now, Bono is living his dream by patrolling the streets of Oxford.
‘I look at it as a chance to give something back to the community,? he said.
Most of the time reserve officers can be seen patrolling the downtown on foot every Friday night, during special events like Celebrate Oxford and on Thursday evenings during Concerts in Centennial Park.
‘The merchants are happy to see you,? Bono said. ‘I’m meeting people now that I probably wouldn’t have met before.?
Making sure kids stay out of trouble is one of the foot patrol’s main jobs on Friday nights.
‘Trying to keep kids from blocking the sidewalks, riding skateboards and destroying stuff,? Bono said.
Knowing the kids as both a high school coach and police officer has ‘a little bit more impact? on them, according to Bono. ‘If I can get one kid to not do something because ‘Hey, if coach finds out,? then it’s worth it.?
But don’t think for a second Bono has let the badge go to his head. ‘I’m not out there to cause trouble,? he said. ‘I try to be fair.?
Bono recalled an incident in which he helped arrest an intoxicated teen for underage drinking.
‘We treated him like I would want to be treated,? he said. ‘He thanked us and said, ‘You’re the nicest cops I’ve ever had arrest me.??
‘I’m serious. He must of said it like three times.?
In addition to foot patrol, Bono also rides with full-time officers as backup, a role he takes very seriously. ‘It’s not fun and games,? he said. ‘I’m just like one of these guys. When I’m out on the road, I can get shot just as easy as they can. That’s always in the back of my mind.?
With his 52nd birthday coming up in October, Bono said his big ‘fear was fitting in with the younger guys? on the department.
But that fear quickly vanished as Bono and his fellow officers got to know each other.
‘I feel really accepted by everybody,? he said. ‘These guys are teaching me a lot.?
Bono wished to than Pat Ball (Oxford Athletic Director), Bob Lauwer (the GM department head he answers to) and his loving family for all their cooperation, understanding and help. Without them, he said he couldn’t have achieved this.
It seems Mike Bono is living proof it’s never too late to make dreams come true.