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Sterling Heights swears in five new police officers; council and chief praise recruits
Summary
Five new officers were sworn in during Tuesday's council meeting. Interim Chief Ken Pappas and councilmembers welcomed officers and noted local recruitment and training resources.
Five new Sterling Heights police officers were sworn in during a presentation at Tuesday's City Council meeting, and city officials urged them to help recruit additional candidates to fill open positions.
The nut graf: The ceremony introduced the officers, summarized their backgrounds, and included remarks from Interim Chief Ken Pappas and council members emphasizing training, community ties and departmental standards.
Interim Chief of Police Ken Pappas introduced the new hires: Liz Domingue, James Morgan, Barry Andre, Louie Shahlavi and Dustin Nelson. Pappas outlined each officer's background: Domingue grew up in Sterling Heights, attended the Macomb County Police Academy and worked for Macomb County Dispatch and Utica Police Department; Morgan has a master's degree from Bowling Green State University and prior service including Port Huron and Bloomfield Hills and experience at the Oakland County Sheriff's Office; Andre has a bachelor's degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and previous service in Utica; Shahlavi attended Washtenaw County Police Academy and worked in Dearborn Heights and at the University of Michigan Police; Nelson comes from Redford Police Department and lives in Sterling Heights.
Officer Liz Domingue said she was "very thankful for being here" and noted her father served 30 years with the department. Interim Chief Pappas thanked council for support of training, equipment and contracts that help attract candidates from other departments.
Several councilmembers welcomed the new officers and asked them to help recruit additional candidates. Councilmember Yerko (recorded as Missus Yerko) said the hires helped the city keep promises to residents made under the city's public-safety millage. Councilmember Radke and others praised the department's standards and urged officers to reach out to council if they need assistance.
Ending: After brief congratulations and comments from council, the council recessed briefly to allow families to take pictures before resuming the meeting.
