The Madison Heights Police Explorer Post along with the entire law enforcement community mourns one of our own Madison Heights Police Officer’s, Ryan Settlemoir’s, recent passing.  Our prayers go out to Officer Settlemoir, his family and the entire Madison Heights Police Department.

Visitation for Officer Settlemoir will be 5-9 p.m. Sunday and 2-9 p.m. Monday at the Swanson and Son Funeral Home, 30351 Dequindre, Madison Heights.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Antioch Baptist Church, 30588 Dequindre, Warren

From the Daily Tribune, June 14, 2009

MADISON HEIGHTS — A Madison Heights police officer who had been hospitalized in Ann Arbor is believed to have died early Friday from the pandemic H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

Officer Ryan Settlemoir, 28, of Macomb Township was airlifted June 2 to the University of Michigan Medical Center from the Henry Ford Hospital in Clinton Township where he was admitted the day before.

A nine-year veteran of the Madison Heights Police Department, Settlemoir was one of about 23 officers sickened with flu-like symptoms beginning in mid-May, said Police Chief Kevin Sagan.

Visibly upset, Sagan said Settlemoir first joined the department in 2000 as a service assistant and became a road patrol officer two years later.

“He was known as a friend to many fellow officers,” Sagan said. “Ryan’s quick wit, wry sense of humor and often-heard laugh will be sorely missed by all of us here.”

Settlemoir’s brother, Chris, joined Sagan Friday at the police station and described his late brother as a family man with a wife, a son, 4, and twin 2-year-old daughters.

“He was just a likable guy,” Chris Settlemoir said of his late brother.

He added that his brother was coherent but confused when he was flown to the U-M hospital.

“From there it escalated very quickly,” he said.

The officer had a history of hypertension and asthma, U-M hospital officials said in a statement. He died of acute respiratory failure and multiple organ failure. Officials said there was no evidence he died from Legionnaire’s disease. Settlemoir tested positive for influenza A. The H1N1 virus is a strain of influenza A and officials at the hospital said it is presumed that is what killed Settlemoir.

“He was usually a pretty healthy guy,” Chris Settlemoir said.

One other officer tested positive for an influenza A virus but has returned to work.

The police department is working with the Oakland County and Macomb County health departments and the Michigan Department of Community Health.

James McCurtis, an MDCH spokesman, said health officials expect tests to reveal the exact type of virus the officer died from within a week. An autopsy is also scheduled.

Because Settlemoir lived in Macomb County, that county’s health department along with the Washtenaw County Health Department is involved in the investigation of Settlemoir’s death, Sagan said.

A quarter of the Madison Heights police department’s officers were hit by flu-like symptoms last month, but all but Settlemoir have returned to work, Sagan said.

The department’s headquarters and patrol car steering wheels were sanitized by a cleaning crew and the building’s rooftop air conditioners were checked and found not to have any problems.

“We’re doing all we can to find out what happened,” Sagan said.

The police station will be inspected by a company specializing in viral contamination on Monday.

“It is extremely difficult when you lose someone who is family member,” Sagan said of the 75-employee department. “This is not a large department. Ryan grew up in the area. He was a little bit of a jokester and he liked to laugh.”

A visitation is scheduled for Settlemoir from 5-9 p.m. Sunday, and 2-9 p.m. Monday at Edward Swanson & Son Funeral Home, 30531 Dequindre, Madison Heights. Services are set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Antioch Baptist Church, 30588 Dequindre, Warren.

A memorial fund for the late officer’s children has been established; donations should be sent to Ryan Settlemoir’s Children’s College Fund, People’s State Bank, 1800 E. 12 Mile Road, Madison Heights, MI 48071.

The Madison Heights Police Explorer Post joins with the entire law enforcement and Metro Detroit community in mourning the loss of Oak Park Public Safety Officer Mason Samborski.  The explorers send their deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Samborski and attended his funeral service on December 31, 2008.  The below story is from the Associated Press.

OAK PARK, Mich. — A teenager was arrested Sunday in connection with the fatal shooting of a suburban Detroit police officer who had stopped him for driving without a license, police said.

The Detroit teenager surrendered to police a few hours after shooting Oak Park Officer Mason Samborski, police said.

Samborski, 28, stopped the 16-year-old driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee during the early morning. The officer put the teen in his squad car and drove him to a nearby apartment complex, apparently seeking an adult to take custody of him or someone who could establish his identity, Chief John McNeilance said.

A struggle occurred at the apartment and Samborski was shot once, the chief said. He wouldn’t say if the officer was shot with his own gun.

A neighbor called police. Emergency crews tried to revive the officer, but he died at Providence Hospital.

“It’s the worst possible thing that can happen in a police department,” McNeilance said. “Obviously, our officers are devastated.”

The teen apparently fled in the Jeep but surrendered about 2:25 p.m. at a police station in nearby Detroit. He was being held there while police sought murder charges.

Police declined to identify the teen.

Samborski had been with the Oak Park police force for four years, said Department of Public Safety Lt. Mike Pinkerton. He was married with one child.

Mike joined the post in 2003 when he was 16-years-old and rose through the ranks of Trustee, QuarterMaster, Vice-President of Administration for two terms and then was elected President.   Mike attained the skill rank of Sergeant prior to aging out. 

He attended the National Conference/Competition in 2004 (Atlanta, GA), 2006 (Flagstaff, AZ) and 2008 (Ft. Collins, CO).  Through his attendance at the States Competition of 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, Mike earned  trophies in Domestic Violence Response and Crime Scene Investigation.  During several of these competitions, he acted as the Team Leader.

Mike's First Year in the Post at 16-years-old.

Many of the awards he won include the “Explorer of the Year”, Drug Abuse Prevention, Community Service, Law Enforcement Service, Crime Prevention, and Perfect Attendance.  He was elected as the “most likely to be a chief of police” by his fellow explorers and earned a Leadership Award from the post advisors.  Mike attended two Search and Rescue Trainings at Boyne Mountain and competed in statewide explorer post paintball tournaments. 

Mike’s favorite part of the post was the tactical trainings, active shooter and Incident Command scenarios, 4th of July events and the competitions.  Mike represented the post, the police department and the city of Madison Heights well.  Over his five year career with the post he has donated over 500 combined hours of dispatch, community service and training. In addition, he served on the Post’s Medical First Responder Team.

He has almost completed his Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice through Oakland Community College and plans to put himself through the police academy in the near future. 

Mike’s long term goal is to earn a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice while working in a local police department.  

He has agreed to continue to volunteer with the program and stay on with the post as an Associate Advisor/Instructor.  (Many more pictures with the below link)

(Mike Ochs and Mike Perez training in
Advanced Crash Investigation) 

(Mike with his Nationals Team in 2006)

(Mike in his
Medical First
Responder Uniform)

(Mike working an event)

(Mike with Associate Advisor Dennis Whittie & Sgt. Worton,
receiving his Leadership Award)

(Mike Perez helping Mike Ochs out
during Officer Down Training–
No one said Mike Ochs was at all heavy!)

(Mike and Brian Keohler on parking lot patrol at an event)

(Medical First Responder Team Members: 
Mike Ochs, Mike O’Meara, Lauren Fowler and Adam Mazur-Baker
backboard and stabalize a victim during
the Search & Rescue Training at Boyne Mountain)

(Mike after Pepper Spray Training.  Did it burn???)

(A little tired from his last
PT training session with the post)

(Mike with the post he lead as President
during the National 2008 Conference)

(Attendance at one of many events
worked with the police explorers)

On October 30th, the police explorers teamed up with the Madison Heights Police Reserves to patrol the streets and to monitor neighborhoods and businesses.  In addition to using patrol vehicles, there were trucks from the DPW that were utilized due to the heavy manpower that evening. All of the recently accepted new explorers learned radio procedures by using the 2 way radio system.  Each explorer kept a shift log and learned about documenting shift activities.  All in all a pretty quite night was reported.

VP of Activities Sije Moreno briefing the shift for the evening

 Explorers waiting for their Reserve Officer partner to go on patrol 

New Member Brandon Lisecki and Ofc. TJ leaving for patrol

New Member Sheldon Dawson during the first part of the shift

Advisor Ofc. Dennis Whittie (pictured) & Scott Bennis ran dispatch

Sije Moreno and Advisor Scott Bennis debriefing the shift at the end of the night

The post has accepted several new members into the program.  After attending the Recruitment Meeting/Open House, being interviewed, and passing a background check, they all attended the Orientation Academy.

The Oorientatoin Academy was an introduction to the explorer post and the law enforcement profession.  Topics that were learned about were traffic direction, crowd control, rules of arrest, handcuffing and suspect searching, witness interviewing, drill & ceremony, physical training, post policies, Rules & Regulations and the Bylaws and dispatching procedures.

 Drill & Ceremony

Darrin doing traffic direction

Traffic Direction of multiple vehicles

Andrienna holding up traffic and watching for ques from partner

Anthony practicing handcuffing from a kneeling position

Darrin handcuffing while suspect (Sije) is on the ground

Ben getting the handcuffs on from a kneeling position

Sheldon being taught suspect searching by President Mike Perez

Mike Ochs leading PT

Duncan Taylor and Chris Woodward holding in a pushup position

On October 1, 2008, the new Board took their offices including:  President Mike Perez, VP of Administration Chris Woodward, VP of Activities Sije Moreno, Secretary Angie Fitzpatrick and Treasurer Duncan Taylor.  They will serve until September 30, 2009.

Explorers Mike Ochs & Mike Perez demonstrating
the after effects of the pepper spray even after
decontamination

There will be an Open House Recruitment Meeting on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH AT 7PM AT THE MADISON HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY.  The library is located on 13 Mile just west of John R in the Madison Heights Municipal Campus (right next door to city hall).  If you are interested in joining, please attend this event as an in depth presentation will be given on during this evening.  Feel free to bring interested friends and/or parents.  If you have any questions, please e-mail, Ace48220@aol.com.

Our 16-minute recruitment video is below. 

Hope to see you at the Recruitment Meeting on Monday, September 29th!

The Madison Heights Police Explorers assisted the St. Louise church with their annual festival.  Post members directed traffic in an out of the parking lots and provided security in the parking lots.  The event ran from Friday through Sunday. 

See more pics by clicking below.

(Explorers during briefing)

(Exp Mike Ochs setting up stop signs)

(Explorers after one of the days and nights of work)

(Exps Brian Koehler and Mike Ochs on Security Parking Lot duty)

(Exp Chris Woodward taking time out while breaking down)

(Exp Brian Koehler, Mike Perez, Angie Fitzpatrick)

(Explorers during De-Briefing after the last day)

The Madison Heights Police Explorer Post has begun the recruiting efforts for the 2008 fall season.   A promotional video is being produced and should be ready and posted to this website sometime in early September.  The upcoming video will cover all aspects of the post including training, seminars, ride alongs, dispatch and other activities.

Those interested in joining the police explorer post can hit on the “Join” link above on this page and follow the directions for a “Pre-Application” for Membership.  The Open House Recruitment Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2008 at 7pm at the Madison Heights Public Library (13 Mile just west of John R, in the Municipal Complex).  Those wanting to become a member should attend on this date as it is the first step into membership into the police explorer post.

(Advisor Scott Bennis helps Exp Mike Ochs wire
the microphone for the video)