Sheriff Connect

Tribute in Memory of Detroit Police Sergeant Kenneth Steil

September 23, 2016 (DETROIT) – On Friday, September 23, 2016, Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon and the entire Wayne County Sheriff’s Office will honor Detroit Police Department’s Sergeant Kenneth Steil. Sheriff Napoleon, along with the men and women of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, express their sincerest condolences over the loss of DPD Sergeant Steil. Sheriff Napoleon wants to acknowledge his passing and honor Sergeant Steil’s memory with a tribute that will be executed by the members of the WCSO.

“Sergeant Steil was devoted to his brothers and sisters in blue. He gave tirelessly to the job and community. It is heartening to know that his dedication to law enforcement was so widely respected by those throughout the metro Detroit community. Losing him is a tremendous loss to us all,” said Sheriff Napoleon.

On Friday, September 23, 2016 at 11 a.m., all WCS officers in equipped units will assume a fixed location on Wayne County roads and simultaneously enable their lights and sirens for 15 seconds in memory of Sergeant Steil. The WCS Marine Unit will also honor Sergeant Steil at this time.

We ask your assistance in alerting the traveling public who may witness this tribute that this is an agency-wide observance so they are not unnecessarily alarmed.

To honor the men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty during the attacks on 9-11, the Detroit Tigers and BELFOR Property Restoration joined forces with local responders to commemorate the National Day of Service and Remembrance. WCSO and other first responders were honored in a pre-game ceremony on the field of Comerica Park.

Members with the Detroit Shriners present the Wayne County Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office with a plaque for Outstanding Service for protecting the citizens of Wayne County.

Sheriff Napoleon leads multi-agency effort in honoring former deputy killed on-duty in Dallas ambush.

A somber journey from Dallas to metro Detroit culminated in hundreds of law enforcement personnel paying tribute to a fellow officer gunned down while on duty July 7, 2016.  A funeral mass for Officer Michael Krol, a native of Redford and former Wayne County Sheriff's deputy, was held this morning at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church.  Ofc. Krol pursued his dream of working with law enforcement to Texas after serving in the WC Jail divisions from November 2003 to August 2007.  

Sheriff Benny Napoleon and the WCSO served as the lead agency for conducting the procession and escort.  Activities involved coordinating with the Chiefs of Police for Dallas and Redford, as well as Ofc. Krol's family, the Harry J. Will Funeral Home (Redford), and Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Southfield).  A command post was set up near the parking lot of St. Robert Bellarmine to monitor radio traffic and all mobile vehicles used in the funeral detail.

Wayne County personnel will join the athletically-inspired at Campus Martius on July 13th for Workout Wednesday.  It's "Wayne County Sheriff's Day" at the downtown Detroit locale and those who show can expect to work up a real sweat.  Activities will include high intensity Interval (HITT) with Alliance Gym, a muscle recovery herbal tea demonstration with Olive Seed and ZUMBA.  Last year Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon addressed the crowd and promised to return.  Workout Wednesdays are held throughout the summer starting at 5 p.m. each week.  And the best part of the after work fun is its free!  See you Wednesday.

You can't put a price on safety, but paying individuals to surrender weapons goes a long way toward increasing the peace.  On Saturday, June 11, 2016, Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon, Judge Greg Mathis and Caliber Collection CEO Jessica Mindich teamed up to hold a unique gun buy-back event in one of Detroit's neighborhoods hit hardest by violence.  Judge Greg Mathis generously donated use of the Mathis Community Center (19300 Greenfield Road) to serve as the venue for the program and also stayed onsite to helped facilitate its success.

The gun buy back event offered $50 per weapon surrendered--no questions asked--with a limit of three weapons per person.  The community response was overwhelming.  Several hundred guns were taken in within the first hour!  WCSO officers conducted the process which was swift and orderly.  All types of weapons were retrieved, from handguns to long barrel rifles.  All that was required was the weapon was to be brought in unloaded, in its carrying case or wrapped in newspaper.  Everyone who participated complied and even applauded the Sheriff and his team for their effort.

"Gun buy-back programs are effective because they allow people to get rid of weapons in their homes they don't want around," said Sheriff Napoleon.  "Too many of our babies and loved ones are falling victim to gun violence.  This allows us to work together to get guns off the streets which will save lives."

The Sheriff's office is grateful to Caliber Collection CEO Jessica Mindich who donated the $25,000 used to pay for the gift cards.  She spearheaded the program several years ago with then New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker in response to a spike in crime in his city.  While most gun buy back programs are pretty cut and dried, C4C has a pretty unique twist.  After the guns are processed, they weapons are redendered inoperable and melted down.  Mindich's company then retrieves the melted product to have artists turn them into rings, bracelets and cufflinks which are imprinted with serial numbers and emblazoned with Detroit before they're sold.  The jewelry can be purchased online at calibercollection.com, Amazon, s.h.e. stores in Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe, the Detroit Shop at Somerset Mall and at the DIA.