Sheriff Connect

Corporal Carlos Banks took action when a man collapsed from a heart attack. 

On April 9, 2017, while off duty attending a sporting event at Total Sports, located in Farmington Hills, MI; Corporal Banks took an immediate response by administering CPR on the man until paramedics arrived.  What stood out the most is that Corporal Banks continued to assist with life saving measures even after the Farmington Public Safety officers and paramedics were present. The patient regained a pulse and began breathing on his own, and was transported to a local hospital - the man left the hospital less than a week later with no neurological or physical deficiencies.

The Farmington Public Safety Department honored Corporal Carlos Banks with a Civilian Life Saving Award at the annual Awards and Citation Banquet on May 4, 2018.

The actions of Corporal Banks are a true compliment to the training and high standards of the men and women of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Farmington Public Safety Department is truly grateful for his heroic act.

The community was asked to join Chanel 7 Action News as they host a panel discussion at Fordson High School with local law enforcement, community leaders, students and educators including: Congreswoman, Debbie Dingell; Cheif, Ronald Haddad; Superintendent,Glenn Maleyko; Representative of District 15, Abdallah Hammoud; Sheriff, Benny Napoleon; Dearborn attorney and gun rights advocate, James J. Makowski; FBI assistant special agent in charge, Jeffret Downey; and US Attorney, Matthew Schneider, to speak on keeping schools safe, and what it will take to do so. 

Residence gathered into the high schools auditorium to seek answers on gun violence in schools, and gave potential alternatives and solutions to security.  The conversation, hosted by WXYZ's Carolyn Clifford, addressed bringing more psychologist into schools, adding onsite officers and metal detectors, and attorney, James J. Makowski suggested arming teachers. 

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@ Northwest Activity Center

18100 Meyers Rd.

Detroit, MI 48235

9am to 2pm

Wayne County Sheriff’s Officer Requirements:

           Must be at least 18 years of age             

Valid Michigan Driver’s License

Possession of a High School Diploma or GED

No Felony Convictions

Be a U.S. Citizen

Be qualified to obtain a Concealed Pistol License

Must pass MCOLES written and agility test

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office

4747 Woodward

Detroit, MI 48201

313-224-0641

Police Officer Applications accepted on-site

Wayne County Sheriff's Office is recruiting people ages 18 and up, contingent on a background check and drug testing. Sheriff Napoleon discussed opportunities on joining the Sheriff’s office as a deputy with anchorman, Jay Towers, on Fox 2 News.

With full benefits, and a retirement plan, those looking to become deputies will have pay increases every year for 5 years, and with dedication, moving up in the ranks is highly possible.

For more information on what to expect as a deputy, contact director of recruitment, Chuck Pappas. He may be reached by phone or email: 313-224-0641 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Also, stop by our main office to fill out an application.

Address to main office:

4747 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201

Joined at the US Attorney's Office in Detroit, MI, US Attorney, Matthew Schneider led the announcement on the consequences that will take place when a person threatens a school. Schneider was joined by six county sheriffs, including Wayne County's Benny Napoleon, Detroit Police Chief James Craig, Michigan State Police, the Michigan Attorney General, the FBI, Homeland Security, the DEA, Secret Service and more.

"When you make a threat, this will change your life forever," said Schneider. 

These students face charges that vary from making bomb threats to making false reports of terrorism, many facing 20-year felonies. One suspect was initially given a $10 million bond. Authorities are also looking at passing along the cost of closing the school onto the family of the accused.

Schneider said, "We will find out who you are and you will be humiliated and embarrassed because you’re the person who caused the school to be shut down." 

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said his county has been especially hit hard by school threats in the wake of a mass shooting earlier this year in Parkland, FL. 

Smith said 51 people in Macomb County have been charged with making a false threat of terrorism since the shooting in Florida that killed 17 people and wounded 17 more on February 14.

"Normally through the course of a school year we get about 17 charges of false threat or threats of terrorism. Through a nine-month school year it's basically two every month, just under two a month," said Smith. "Since Parkland, which has been seven weeks or so, we have charged 51 defendants with false threat of terrorism. That's 40 juveniles and 11 adults. When I say adults, these are 17-year-old high school seniors who are charged as adults." This is more than the average amount of such charges issued by Smith’s office during the course of a school year. 

Officials have been calling on parents to become more involved in their children's social media.  Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said he has seen better cooperation from parents in some of his department's investigations.

"Sometimes they say, "'Oh not my boy,' or 'Not my girl,' ... but now it looks like parents are finally getting it," he said. 

Those who cause threats are not aware of the severity and cost it takes to send a team out, including helicopters, to investigate the potential threat.

"What we're really looking for is to figure out a way to reimburse the taxpayer for a threat that is communicated to the school district," said Oakland County's Chief Asst. Prosecutor, Paul Walton. "I think part of it is an issue of parenting. We go out to area schools all the time; we talk to first the students and we also talk to the parents. And the parents don't seem to often times want to attend or, I guess, there's a feeling it's "not going to be my son or daughter" until the police show up at the doorstep with search warrants." The parents of these students have been cooperative and have been willing to give their guns to authorities.

Schneider said schools will be given a presentation about the consequences of making such threats.  Schools are able to contact local authorities on how to join the list of visiting schools so that this presentation may be administered to parents, students, staff and faculty.

Writer: Dir. Pageant B. Atterberry

With a push for safe schools, students across the United States have not only organized walkouts, but Saturday the March for Our Lives brought out hundreds of thousands of young people protesting school shootings and advocating for an increase in school safety.  The movement came after a series of school shootings with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, being the most recent in headline news where 17 students were gunned down by 19 year-old, Nikolas Cruz.

In March, a coalition comprised of Michigan’s top law enforcement and education groups met at a local school to unveil their proposals for preventing violence in the classroom.

“School shootings and bomb threats dominate the headlines.  Violence is followed by mourning, outrage, and calls for reform – before the cycle repeats itself, without any meaningful change,” said Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth. “Michigan law enforcement and Michigan school leaders agree – enough is enough.  It’s time for change.”

The plan calls for a new $100 million grant program for personnel, and a $20 million grant program for safety infrastructure, and other reforms, including:

• More school resource officers—sheriffs and police—working in school facilities through a new state grant program
• More school mental health professionals to identify problems early through the same new state grant program
• Grants to ensure safer buildings for students and teachers 
• Mandatory reporting of threats and graduated penalties to help prevent violence.

The Michigan Student Safety Reform Plan gives school districts access to funding to hire additional school mental health professionals increasing the ratio of mental health professionals to students in districts statewide.

 “Putting more sheriffs and police on school property and in school buildings will keep our children safe – and prevent tragedies before they happen,” said Michael Rochholz, President of the Michigan Association of School Boards.  “We also need to increase the ratio of school mental health professionals to help assist with early intervention.”

Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul added, “We know many shooters often show signs of trouble, long before an attack— and school mental health professionals are the first line of defense.” 

Currently, Michigans ratio is 1 psychologist to every 4,800 students, rather than the ideal 1 for every 1,000 students. Though school social workers are recommended at a ratio of 1 for every 500 students, in Michigan, districts are often at 1,000 to 1, or worse.  Also, school counselors are recommended at a level of 1 for every 250 students - Michigan’s ratio is roughly 1 to 750.

The bipartisanship of these plans also requires a walk through by law enforcement officers of every school building in the state and calls for a mandatory reporting of threats against schools to law enforcement.

Tuscola County Prosecuting Attorney, Mark Reene, ended the meeting saying, “Nothing in this proposal is controversial.  Nothing here is divisive.  These are common sense, bipartisan solutions to a very real crisis, and we look forward to working with the legislature to make them a reality very soon.”

The Michigan School Safety Reform Plan is backed by:

• Michigan Sheriffs Association
• Michigan Association of School Administrators
• Michigan Association of School Boards
• Michigan Association of School Psychologists
• Michigan Association of School Social Workers
• Michigan School Counselors Association
• Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police
• Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan

Writer: Dir. Pageant B. Atterberry

Friday, March 23, 2018, men and women from the WCSO participated in First Responder's Recognition night at the Little Caesar’s Arena.

The men played a great game in basketball and placed 3rd in the 
"First Responders 4 Fitness Midwest Battle of the Badges" tournament, while the women won 1st place in the women’s tug of war against MDOC (Michigan Department of Corrections).