It was July 2, 2018 when Patrol Unit 714, including sergeant Wasil and officers Vago and Smith, were providing security patrol for the Lake Erie Metropark fireworks.  While maneuvering through the anchored boats at approximately 10 pm, officers spotted a person in the water near the back of a lighted boat, as officers approached the boat, the people on the boat were pulling a woman out of the water.  The officers then heard a faint call for help and spotted a man in the water in front of their patrol boat.  Not only was the man not wearing a life jacket, there was a strong current with waves at approximately 2 feet in height.  The man was going under water, then coming up for air and struggling to stay afloat.  The officers brought the patrol boat alongside, and officer Smith threw a life ring with a line attached to him and man immediately grabbed on - he was pulled onto the back of the patrol boat by officers Vago and Smith.  The man explained that he jumped in to help a female friend who originally jumped into the lake without a life jacket to retrieve her hat - she struggled getting back into the boat due to the strong current.  Because neither one of victims wearing a life jacket, after he assisted her to a boat that witnessed them in trouble, he said he couldn't swim anymore and was just trying to stay above water while drifting away from the boat with the strong current.  

The man told the officers that he believes he had been in the water for 20 minutes, and was having a difficult time staying on top of the water when officers arrived. The efforts from the officers on Patrol Unit 714 prevented a drowning that night.

The Wayne County Sheriffs Marine Unit wants to remind all boaters that if you go into the water they should be wearing a life jacket. Life jackets save lives!

On June 5, 2018, Corporal David Austin advised Wayne County Regional Dispatch that a witness reported seeing a potential dead body in the Lower Rouge River, located east of Henry Ruff and north of Michigan Avenue in the City of Westland.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was dispatched to the scene and immediately engaged in the recovery process.  Upon entering the river, the Wayne County Sheriff's Marine unit discovered the victim, a deceased 31 year old white male, entrapped and partially buried in debris and what appeared to be a beaver dam and floating log jam.  The victim was removed from the debris and carried to shore, where he was turned over to personnel from the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Prior to the fidnings, family members reported the victim as a missing person to the Westland Police Department on May 6^th - Westland Police Department detective bureau will assume the responsibility of conducting the investigation into the cause death.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office Dive Team members who responded to the scene are: Lieutenant Matthew Gloster, Sergeant Michael Wasil, Corporal David Brownfiel, Corporal Sean White, and Corporal Timothy Chmura.  These individuals are highly trained and take part in dive operations in the Great Lakes, Detroit River, and in inland waterways and lakes.

May 21, 2018, AAA - The Auto Club Group, initiated its official " Bases are Loaded for a Safe Summer" kick-off news conference. Memorial Day signals the beginning of the summer travel season. It also signals a higher risk time for unsafe driving, motor vehicle crashes and fatalities. In a unified effort to help prevent traffic deaths and injuries, AAA, the Detroit Tigers and local law enforcement agencies have teamed up to promote a safer summer.

Law enforcement, AAA, and  the Detroit Tigers including: Wayne County Sheriff, Benny Napoleon; Oakland County Sheriff, Michael Bouchard; Macomb County Sheriff, Lieutenant Tina Old; Detroit Police Chief, James Craig; The Auto Club Group Senior Vice President-Field Operations, Dan Schrock; The Auto Club GroupSenior Vice President-Corporate Relations, Ro Katrak; and Detroit Tigers Vice President-Park Operations, Mike Healy all gave their insight and stories of the importance of drunk and drugged driving prevention, safety belt use, teen driver safety, distracted driving prevention, safe boating, underage drinking prevention, motorcycle safety, speed limit compliance and various new programs that support summer safety.

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