Anthony Wayne Martin loved life, loved his job and loved his ‘large circle of friends.? The Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy worked hard and played hard.
That’s why so many people were shocked and saddened to learn the 48-year-old passed away suddenly Thursday Feb. 3 after suffering a heart attack while on duty.
Martin, a former Oxford Police officer from 1982 to 2000, had just cleared a traffic stop in Royal Oak Township and was on his way back to the substation to end his 3-11 p.m. shift.
According to Undersheriff Mike McCabe, Martin told the reserve deputy riding with him he wasn’t feeling well and asked him to drive. Along the way, Martin asked the reserve deputy to pull over so he could get some fresh air.
When Martin exited the car, he collapsed in the street. The reserve deputy immediately radioed for help and ‘did everything he could to save (Martin’s) life,? McCabe said.
Although Martin underwent heart valve replacement surgery in 1999, McCabe said he was ‘physically fit? and ‘worked out all the time.?
‘He always looked like a million bucks,? the undersheriff said. ‘That’s why it was so unbelievable.?
‘I was in total shock,? said Oxford Fire Chief Jack LeRoy, who served as police chief from 1987-1994. ‘It’s unfortunate when anybody goes that young.?
‘I’m very saddened to hear he’s gone,? LeRoy added. ‘I liked Tony. He was a very likeable person. Well-liked by everyone on the department as I recall.?
‘Everyone that called Tony a friend is suffering right now. That means a lot of people are hurting,? said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh, who explained that Martin was surrounded by ‘a large circle of friends.?
‘Once you knew Tony, you were friends,? said Narsh, who quickly became good friends with Martin while attending the police academy together in 1982. ‘He instantly endeared himself to you.?
‘He was like a brother to me,? said former Oxford Police Sergeant Dan Miller. ‘He was always quick to listen. He was always there to help with a problem or laugh at a joke.?
Narsh said he ‘respected (Martin’s) abilities, love for the job and his dedication? to police work.
‘Tony was always the guy you’d want to go on a call with,? Narsh said. ‘He carried that trust with him everyday.?
As a police officer, Miller said Martin had the ‘uncanny? ability to quickly size up a situation or problem and resolve it a fair and just manner.
Martin was always the ‘go-to? guy in the police department, according to Miller. ‘If you ever needed something done, call Tony.?
During his nearly 23-year career, Martin earned numerous commendations and awards for his outstanding police work, which can only be characterized as consistently above and beyond the call of duty.
During his time with the Oxford Police, he earned two certificates of recognition ? one in 1992 for his work investigating and assisting in the arrest of a breaking and entering perpetrator; the other in 1994 for his handling of an attempted suicide.
In 1996, Martin was awarded a commendation for his action involving an armed individual who was suicidal and for a second incident involving an individual discharging firearms in the village area.
Martin’s dedication to his job earned him a promotion to sergeant with the Oxford PD in October 1995.
The sheriff’s department, which Martin joined in 2000 following the disbandment of the joint township-village Oxford Police, awarded him two commendations in 2000 and 2003.
While with the Oxford Police, Martin also earned numerous awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for consistently having the highest annual number of OUIL (Operating Under the Influence of Liquor) arrests in the department.
All these awards and his promotion to sergeant are especially impressive when one considers Martin originally didn’t set out to be a professional police officer.
When Martin started as a reserve officer for Oxford in 1979, he held mechanical engineering and plumbing licenses, which could have earned him a lucrative career in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry.
But instead of seeking financial success, Miller said Martin ‘felt the need to serve the community? and ‘help people.?
‘He got into police work because he liked it,? LeRoy said. ‘I thought Tony was a good officer. He did his job and then some.?
Undersheriff McCabe noted that Martin was ‘well-respected in this agency? and ‘well-liked by his peers.?
As a certified field training officer, McCabe said, ‘The younger deputies looked up to him. He was a mentor, a role model.?
McCabe said he was always struck by Martin’s ‘friendly? and ‘upbeat? demeanor.
‘You never heard a negative word out of his mouth,? he said. ‘He never complained. He was always very positive.?
Martin was assigned to the Royal Oak Township substation for the last three years. Prior to that, he had been assigned to the substations in Independence and Oxford townships.
Although he was a hard worker and consummate professional, Martin knew the importance of having fun and a healthy zest for life.
From scuba-daiving in Florida and the Bahamas to exploring the open road on his motorcycle to living it up in Las Vegas, Narsh said Martin ‘lived life to the fullest everyday.?
‘If Tony was on board, you knew it was going to be a blast,? Narsh said. ‘His sense of humor was priceless.?
‘He was very vivacious,? Miller said. ‘He was constantly on the move. Loved to travel. Loved to live life.?
Just hours before a heart attack claimed his life, Miller said Martin was talking on the phone with him, excited about an income tax refund and using the money for a trip to Key West, Florida.
It’s safe to say Tony Martin’s passing has left a large, unfillable void in the law enforcement community and his beloved circle of friends.
Undersheriff McCabe summed it up best when he said, ‘There’s not another Tony Martin out there.?
How sad for the rest of us.
Martin leaves behind two daughters Kelly and Kathryn; a granddaughter Kayla Martin; and many other loving family members.
A funeral Mass was held for Martin Feb. 8 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak.
Memorials may be made to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.