BY LISA VALENTINE
Lake Orion Review Staff Writer
After he got his degree in criminal justice, Daniel Traylor looked for a job in Wisconsin and North Carolina, but ended up settling not too far from his hometown of Lake Orion with the Canton Police Department.
After just over a decade with the Canton force, he was named their Officer of the Year in April. A 1988 Lake Orion High School graduate, Traylor grew up in Lake Orion with brothers Todd and Jay, who still live in Orion, and sister Tina. His parents Ronald and Millie Traylor also still live in Lake Orion.
‘I went to Lake Superior State University right after high school, and I graduated in May of 1992,? he said. ‘I piddled around with odd jobs while I looked for a job in law enforcement…It was 11 months and three weeks before I was hired in Canton.?
Traylor and wife Tonya, along with their three-month-old daughter Allison, recently moved to Canton, where Traylor has been a police officer since 1993. He’s the only one in his family in law enforcement.
‘My brothers are both mechanics, and my father worked for General Motors,? he said. ‘I liked history, and early on I just started learning all I could about law enforcement.?
Traylor said he enjoys serving and helping others in his job, and also likes the camaraderie he has with other officers. He has served as a field training officer for new officers, and he is a team leader for the Western Wayne Special Operations Team, a multi-jurisdiction unit.
‘I like working with other officers, and with the special operations team, I love working with those guys,? Traylor said.
Traylor received his Officer of the Year award ‘in recognition of many different things,? he said.
‘Someone is nominated…my sergeant nominated me. Then a committee votes…I was very surprised,? Traylor said. ‘It’s better then getting five days off.?
Although surprised, Traylor is humble about his achievements in earning the award.
‘I don’t feel like I did more or less then any other officer,? he said. ‘But when you train officers, it’s a lot of extra work.?
When he initially decided to pursue his career as a police officer, Traylor said his mother was ‘apprehensive at first, as all mothers would be.?
‘My dad was excited and proud,? he said. ‘They were both there to see me get the award. I was happy, because they’ve both contributed to my development as a person and an officer.?
Traylor said he also gets a lot of his work ethic from his mom.
‘She’s probably a workaholic too,? he said.
Traylor also has a good support system in his wife.
‘She was very proud,? he said. ‘I couldn’t have picked a better wife out of a book.?
Traylor’s mother-in-law Tracey Drain even had a shirt made for baby Allison that tells everyone her daddy is Officer of the Year.
Traylor’s next career move will be to move from the bicycle unit to the K-9 unit.
‘We have two dogs, two cats and a new baby at home, so it’s kind of crazy,? he said. ‘Because my wife has been so supportive, I was able to put in for a position in K-9.?
If he wasn’t a cop, Traylor said he would be a history teacher.
‘I think it’s that instructor part of my job,? he said. ‘A lot of that comes from being a teacher…I like mentoring young officers.?