After nearly four years as Springfield Township’s top cop, Sgt. Mark Gardner is moving on.
‘It’s just time for a change,? he said. ‘Some people look at change as a negative thing, but I embrace change. It’s a time to maybe look at yourself, learn and take on some new challenges in your life.?
Gardner, who began his tenure as commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Springfield Township substation in May 2004, transferred to Royal Oak Township, where he took over the reins Saturday.
A 21-year OCSO veteran, Gardner said he’s looking forward to the challenges of a more urban community.
‘I always like to learn new things and I’m going to learn a lot of new things down there,? said Gardner, explaining that the OCSO covers Royal Oak Township during the afternoon shift, but Michigan State Police take over during midnights and afternoons. ‘I’m replacing a sergeant who’s done a bang up job, who’s well respected down there.?
Still, Gardner said, he’ll miss working in Springfield Township.
‘I can’t say enough about the deputies out here,? he said. ‘They really work hard and do everything they can to make sure the job is done right. We’ve had a lot of domestics, we’ve had a bank robbery an armed robbery, and everything is handled so professionally.?
Much of that professionalism, he said, can be seen from the way deputies talk to people on a call.
‘They let people know they have a job to do, but they’re there to help,? he said. ‘I guess you’d call it firm but fair.?
Gardner also said he enjoyed a good working relationship with Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls during the last four years.
‘Collin has always been straight forward with me,? Gardner said. ‘If I ask him a question, I know I’m going to get an honest answer. We had good two-way communication.?
In fact, Gardner continued, it was that communication that helped propel necessary change around the substation, which is located inside Colombiere Center off Big Lake Road.
The substation now includes an interview room, detective’s office, and locker room for female deputies.
‘The most important thing, I thought, is we got a detective,? Gardner said. ‘There hadn’t been a detective here in many, many years, but cases have increased we needed to have the body out here.?
Previously, Gardner was responsible for sergeant, administrative, and investigative duties. Bringing a detective on board, he said, was something akin to growing a third arm.
‘Now cases can get investigated thoroughly,? he said. ‘Not that they weren’t investigated thoroughly before but now we have one person dedicated to that job. That’s what they do.?
But Gardner also said he enjoys the investigative side of his job, which offers him the opportunity to ‘really know people,? and a chance, perhaps, to help.
‘Some people really need direction getting through a process,? he said. ‘Like in domestic violence cases’sometimes people are going through a such a bad time, they’ve got so many balls in the air, and they’re looking for someone on the outside to maybe help them go in the right direction.?
Often, he said, that means help navigating the court system and the victim’s assistance process.
It was that desire to help others, Gardner said, that prompted him to seek a Master’s degree in counseling, which he earned from Spring Arbor University in May 2007.
‘I’m not a business person,? he said with a laugh. ‘And I’m not very good with hammers and stuff like that. I’ve always dealt with people.?
Returning to school, he said, helped him understand others better, but also made him a better person, and a better police officer.
And the degree may come in handy down the road.
‘I have a while until I retire but I think we all should have a game plan for when we do retire,? he said. ‘My game plan is that I’d like to go into the counseling field.?
Gardner said he was interested in the possibility of working with adolescents, police officers, and police officers? families.
‘Another thing I’ve run across is that when you’re dealing with juries in horrific cases sometimes when they walk away and take some of the testimony and images from evidence they and it bothers them,? he said. ‘Where do they go from there??
Oakland County, Gardner said, is currently working on a program to assist such former jurors. He’s interested in that, as well.
But for now, he’s a cop.
‘I like my job,? he said. ‘I deal with so many new people and learn so much from them.
My attitude is if I wake up today and I didn’t learn something new, then there’s something wrong. I think you should learn something new every single day.?
As he leaves Springfield Township, Gardner seemed to have mostly upbeat thoughts.
‘This area is growing,? he said. ‘Things are tough with economy, but is growing and going in positive direction, and I firmly believe sheriff’s office is positive for Springfield Township.?
A few issues, he continued, could use improvement.
‘I’d like to have another deputy out here, that’d be nice,? Gardner said, noting three deputies are on duty during each shift. ‘And with the way things are growing, I’d like to see us in another location. (Something similar to the Independence Township substation) would be real nice. We’re professional here, now, but I always think you can improve upon professionalism.?
Supervisior Collin Walls said Gardner did an outstanding job in the community and would be missed.
Others echoed the sentiment.
‘We’ll miss him out here,? said Detective Ray Kujawa, who served about two years as a patrol deputy in Springfield Township beofer taking over the investigative work last fall. ‘I like to think he left Springfield Township in better shape than it was in when he arrived,?
Kujawa said Gardner was a good supervisor with a positive management style’he kept his eye on things but let officers do their jobs without micromanaging. He was organized, dedicated, accessible and never complained.
‘You could always reach him,? Kujawa said. ‘You could call him at two in the morning with a question, he never minded at all.?
Sgt. Joe Scarpelli, who will replace Gardner as substation commander, arrived in Springfield Township after transferring from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit, where he spent his working hours ‘hunting? evasive felons.
‘Mark did a tremendous job out here,? Scarpelli said. ‘A lot of the programs he started here are coming to fruition. It makes my job easier because he’s done a lot of the groundwork.?
Scarpelli, who’s been out of the substation environment for about five years, said he’s looking forward to becoming acquainted with Springfield Township. And, like Gardner, he’s looking forward to the change of pace.