DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

TROOPER JOHN ARTHUR

Michigan State Police

May 2, 2007, on a rural winding road in Grand Traverse County, Michigan State Police Trooper John Arthur clocked a vehicle traveling over 80 miles per hour.  Trooper Arthur was traveling in the opposite direction and had to reverse course to try to catch up with the offender.  Suddenly, the vehicle veered off the side of the road and struck a tree head on, turning over onto its roof and catching fire.  There was no braking prior to impact. 

Trooper Arthur went to assist the car’s occupant, first attempting to extinguish the fire with the fire extinguisher from his patrol car, but to no avail.  As the fire began to intensify, Trooper Arthur reacted by breaking out the driver’s side window and reaching inside to extract the lone occupant who was pinned in.  Trooper Arthur was eventually able to free the occupant, remove him from the immediate danger they both were in, and drag the man 50 feet to safety.  The driver of the vehicle subsequently survived, but had suffered internal and multiple skeletal injuries.

Michigan State Police Trooper John Arthur displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct, involving exemplary courage, in the face of great risk and danger to his personal safety.  For this, Trooper Arthur is awarded the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police’s Distinguished Service Medal. 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

OFFICER DAVID GARCIA

OFFICER GEORGE O’GORMAN

Detroit Police Department

December 11, 2007, Detroit Police Officers David Garcia and George O’Gorman were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle complaint.  While searching the area, the officers came upon a Cadillac Escalade with a lone occupant sitting in the back seat.  At sighting the officers, the subject attempted concealment by sliding down below the seat level, out of the officers’ view.  The officers initiated their patrol car overheads so as to notify the concealed male that they were police officers.  When the officers approached the Cadillac on foot, the suspect rose up in the seat and began shooting at them.  Officer Garcia was immediately struck by a bullet fragment to the face.

The male suspect, later identified as Andre Jones, exited the Cadillac and began to run from the officers, while still shooting at them.  Officers Garcia and O’Gorman returned fire at the fleeing Jones, and Officer Garcia was struck in the arm by a bullet.  Jones continued to flee, while O’Gorman—who was not aware of Garcia’s injuries—gave chase until Garcia notified Dispatch he had been shot.  O’Gorman then returned to render aid to the wounded Officer Garcia.

The assailant, Andre Jones, was later tracked down by Detroit police officers and taken into custody.  Jones was found to have received several gunshot wounds to his body.  He was also discovered to have been wearing protective body armor, which had been struck a number of times.  He is now in custody awaiting trial on several felony counts.

While in the performance of their duties, Detroit Police Officers Garcia and O’Gorman have displayed exceptional meritorious conduct and exemplary courage in the face of great risk and danger to their personal safety.  For this, Officer Garcia and Officer O’Gorman are awarded the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police’s Distinguished Service Medal. 

     DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

POLICE OFFICER JOHNATHAN HALL

Detroit Police Department

November 30, 2007, Detroit Police Officer Johnathan Hall was assisting motorists at a single car accident scene on I96—the Jeffries Expressway—when a second vehicle struck the vehicle of the motorists Hall was assisting.  Hall, who by then had escorted the uninjured driver of the first vehicle to safety, returned to render aid to the occupants of the second vehicle. 

Hall approached the second vehicle, which had struck with such impact as to pin the driver, and lone occupant, Tasha Thomas, in her seat by the steering column.  Hall noted the vehicle was on fire towards the front end.  He instructed Thomas to hold onto him around his neck while he labored to free her from the vehicle as the fire progressively burned closer.  Officer Hall was able to work Thomas free from her captivity and move her to safety just prior to the vehicle becoming fully engulfed in flames.  Officer Hall suffered a back injury as a result of his efforts.

Without any doubt, Detroit Police Officer Johnathan Hall saved the life of Tasha Thomas.  He displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct and exemplary courage, with great risk to his own life and safety.   For this, Officer Hall is awarded the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police’s Distinguished Service Medal. 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

OFFICER DAVID HOCHSTEIN

OFFICER KENNETH PERCIN

Westland Police Department

October 13, 2007, Westland Police Officers David Hochstein and Kenneth Percin responded to a domestic disturbance complaint.   A Westland woman reported her husband had become irate over being served divorce papers, and while brandishing a handgun, threatened to kill her. Both officers responded to the home to investigate.  Upon arrival, Officer Hochstein went to the front door and knocked, while officer Percin went to the back of the house in case the suspect attempted to leave through the back door.

While at the back of the house, Officer Percin, with the aid of a flashlight, saw the suspect trying to conceal himself behind some furniture.  At seeing the officer, the suspect, Kenneth Sundman, walked to the back door of the house, entered, and then allowed the officers in.  While inside, officers moved to arrest the suspect who was trying to walk away from them.  Sundman then produced a handgun from his pocket, and a struggle began between him and Officer Percin.  Sundman was able to turn the gun towards the officers and fire a shot, grazing the hand of Officer Percin.  Officer Hochstein, who had drawn his service weapon, fired a shot into the chest of Sundman, inflicting a mortal wound and putting an end to the life-threatening assault.

Westland Police Officers David Hochstein and Kenneth Percin displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct, involving exemplary courage, at great risk and danger to their personal safety.  For this, they are awarded the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Distinguished Service Medal.