Joseph Balowski named Officer of the Year by Sumpter Township PD

During the May 12 regular meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees, a series of awards were presented to Sumpter Police Officers by Sgt. Chris McGlynn.
Officer of the Year went to Joseph Balowski. The award is for continuous quality performance throughout the year, contributing significantly to the department’s mission.
Officer Brian Steffani received the Patrol Productivity Award for the third year running in recognition of the most productive patrol officer for the previous year, with an emphasis on the number and quality of arrests.
Sgt. McGlynn said of Steffani, “He’s a machine.”
Other awards were:
• Valued Service (20 years) – members qualifying for this award shall have accrued a minimum of 20 years of continued service: Officer Jerry Cox and Captain Eric Luke.
• Distinguished Service – awarded in recognition of department members who in two consecutive year increments accomplishes the following: continually surpasses the department’s average performance standards, experience no sustained disciplinary action, and no at-fault vehicle accidents: Officer Brian Steffani, Cpl. John Ashby, and Sgt. Chris McGlynn.
• Meritorious Service – awarded to a member who has performed an efficient and valuable service to the department, the community as a whole, or an individual citizen, either in the performance of a specific task or in the the outstanding performance of general duties over an extended period: Captain Eric Luke.
• Academic Achievement (Staff & Command): Sgt. Patrick Gannon and Sgt. Chris McGlynn – both of whom graduated from Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff & Command on Oct. 17.
• Chief’s Recognition – the Chief of Police may present this award to a member of the police department for any reason deemed worthy of recognition: Officer Colleen Gottschalk for her actions in case #14-0145 (ran down a suspect fleeing on foot, showing physical agility); Cpl. Ashby for traffic law enforcement – safety focus; and Officer Danielle Buccellato, Officer Brian Steffani, Officer Joseph Balowski, Officer Colleen Gottschalk, Officer Beth Egerer, Det./Cpl. John Toth, and Sgt. Chris McGlynn, all for the Jared Ritchie attempted murder case.