Residents in Goodrich have a reason to feel safer knowing the deputies in their town have been recognized by the top cops at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.
Three deputies in Atlas Township were given first rate honors on Nov. 1 at the ninth annual awards and retirement dinner in Flint.
‘I am very proud of the way these deputies conducted themselves,? said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
‘They served in the very finest tradition of the office of sheriff. In their investigations, they went way beyond to make a determination and made sure they went to the Last Chance party store to warn them about the danger.
Even though one of our deputies was under fire, he still held his position to protect people.?
Deputy Paul Brooks was given the citation of professional excellence award for acting on a hunch when, on Jan. 7, he responded to an arson at 9415 Horton Road, Atlas Township. A large barn was burned and the owners? farm tractor was stolen. After further investigation, Brooks suggested that he and Sgt. Parks go to a home on Horton Road. When Brooks noticed the homeowners? hanging coats smelled of gasoline, they made an arrest and later got a confession to arson and theft.
Deputy Matt McKay was given the meritorious service award when on March 2 he spotted two suspicious males on M-15 at Hegel Road in Atlas Township. As he approached them, he noticed a fresh wound on one of the male’s hands. McKay moved in to get identification, but the two took off on foot. McKay pursued, but lost them in the dark. Not stopping there, McKay later went to the only open business in the village, BP gas station, and alerted the store clerk. Later that night, McKay was dispatched to the same store for shots fired. As he approached, McKay observed broken glass, and two bullet holes in the store. While searching the perimeter, Deputy McKay took fire. Multiple rounds raced over his head, again hitting the store. Deputy McKay protected the clerks until backup arrived.
Deputy Dan Livingston, concerned that others may be potential victims, notified the staff at the ‘Last Chance? party store, a business north of town. Later that night, the teens showed up at the Last Chance store. 9-1-1 was called and Deputy Livingston responded. The two teens, and another subject, drove out of the lot southbound on M-15. When Livingston went to stop the Suburban, they drove a short distance into a ditch. After a foot chase, all suspects were in custody. Deputy Livingston was awarded the citation of professional excellence.
‘These guys are really good at what they do,? said Paul Amman, Atlas Township Supervisor.
‘They really know our community well and spend a lot of time on the back roads paying attention to what is going on, and when something is amiss such as a person or a car not being where it is supposed to be, it catches their eye. They don’t just wait on a corner for something to happen, they police our community.?