Fritzc
New member
EGR loses 'dedicated officer' in motorcycle crash
Thursday, August 09, 2007
By Nate Reens and Jenna Carlesso
The Grand Rapids Press
EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- Leaving college, Michael Winchester wanted to see the positive effects police work could have on a community.
The five-year East Grand Rapids Public Safety officer, who died in a motorcycle crash Wednesday while off duty, will be held up as an example to those who follow him, department Director Mark Herald said.
"We've lost a dedicated officer," Herald said, noting Winchester's prowess for drug investigations. "It was our honor to serve with him. We lost a family member here, and it's tough. We're hurting right now."
Winchester, a 27-year-old native of Gladstone in the Upper Peninsula, was killed about 3 p.m. when he lost control of a motorcycle. It crossed the centerline of Alden Nash Avenue in Lowell Township and was struck by a semi-truck, Kent County sheriff's investigators said.
He was with another off-duty East Grand Rapids officer at the time of the crash near 36th Street SE, Herald said.
Herald did not name the other officer, who was not injured. He also declined to discuss Winchester's experience with motorcycles, saying it wasn't the appropriate time. State records show no motorcycle registered to Winchester.
The loss to his fellow public safety officers, who double as firefighters on the 30-member force, is as profound as that suffered last month by Grand Rapids Police when Officer Robert Kozminski was shot and killed in the line of duty, Herald said.
"You lose someone very close to you," he said. "It doesn't make a difference how."
And just as in the death of Kozminski on July 8, the law enforcement community is helping their East Grand Rapids brethren.
Grand Rapids firefighters and Kent County sheriff's deputies immediately bridged a gap between the 3 p.m. crash and a return to duty by East officers eight hours later.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Harry Dolan said his force is available for anything Herald and his officers need. Dolan recently ushered his department through Kozminski's death. He declined to talk about the difficulty now facing East's department but said he will be available if Herald seeks help.
"From today on, we will do whatever we can to support and help them," Dolan said. "They know they can count on us and other agencies in Kent County to support their department and their community."
Winchester worked with a team of seven other officers during 24-hour shifts. That group is dealing with the loss as best as can be expected, but his death leaves a void, said Brian Donovan, East Grand Rapids city manager.
"You really get to know the people here," Donovan said. "His absence will be felt."
The city had counselors on hand for officers, and the county's victim services advocates were called in to talk with staffers.
In a community where "everybody knows everybody else," Kent County Sheriff's Department volunteer Eric Neitzel said everyone feels the impact.
"It's hard on any department, but it's very hard on a small department," he said.
Winchester graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2002 and was hired that September. He said in an earlier Press interview that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, reinforced his desire to be a public servant.
The avid fisherman and hunter, who hailed from a town of 5,000 north of Escanaba, had a nose for drug busts, Herald said. Winchester would make traffic stops and sense that occupants had narcotics, earning a certificate of recognition in 2005 for his effort.
"He had a real knack for that," Herald said. "He was an assertive and aggressive officer."
Yet, Herald said, Winchester was a nice and easy-going guy who was quiet and respectful of command officers and city residents.
As Kim Huizenga left the city's library Wednesday and learned an officer had died, she said police are a big part of the community.
"They're in our schools, our kids know them," Huizenga said. "Each one is an integral part of the city."
Funeral arrangements are pending, and the city will follow the wishes of Winchester's family, Donovan said.
Meanwhile, the department will get back to its routine, Herald said.
"It's important to operate like normal," he said. "Our officers want to work. They want to be here."
Send e-mail to the author: nreens@grpress.com
?®2007 Grand Rapids Press
?® 2007 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
By Nate Reens and Jenna Carlesso
The Grand Rapids Press
EAST GRAND RAPIDS -- Leaving college, Michael Winchester wanted to see the positive effects police work could have on a community.
The five-year East Grand Rapids Public Safety officer, who died in a motorcycle crash Wednesday while off duty, will be held up as an example to those who follow him, department Director Mark Herald said.
"We've lost a dedicated officer," Herald said, noting Winchester's prowess for drug investigations. "It was our honor to serve with him. We lost a family member here, and it's tough. We're hurting right now."
Winchester, a 27-year-old native of Gladstone in the Upper Peninsula, was killed about 3 p.m. when he lost control of a motorcycle. It crossed the centerline of Alden Nash Avenue in Lowell Township and was struck by a semi-truck, Kent County sheriff's investigators said.
He was with another off-duty East Grand Rapids officer at the time of the crash near 36th Street SE, Herald said.
Herald did not name the other officer, who was not injured. He also declined to discuss Winchester's experience with motorcycles, saying it wasn't the appropriate time. State records show no motorcycle registered to Winchester.
The loss to his fellow public safety officers, who double as firefighters on the 30-member force, is as profound as that suffered last month by Grand Rapids Police when Officer Robert Kozminski was shot and killed in the line of duty, Herald said.
"You lose someone very close to you," he said. "It doesn't make a difference how."
And just as in the death of Kozminski on July 8, the law enforcement community is helping their East Grand Rapids brethren.
Grand Rapids firefighters and Kent County sheriff's deputies immediately bridged a gap between the 3 p.m. crash and a return to duty by East officers eight hours later.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Harry Dolan said his force is available for anything Herald and his officers need. Dolan recently ushered his department through Kozminski's death. He declined to talk about the difficulty now facing East's department but said he will be available if Herald seeks help.
"From today on, we will do whatever we can to support and help them," Dolan said. "They know they can count on us and other agencies in Kent County to support their department and their community."
Winchester worked with a team of seven other officers during 24-hour shifts. That group is dealing with the loss as best as can be expected, but his death leaves a void, said Brian Donovan, East Grand Rapids city manager.
"You really get to know the people here," Donovan said. "His absence will be felt."
The city had counselors on hand for officers, and the county's victim services advocates were called in to talk with staffers.
In a community where "everybody knows everybody else," Kent County Sheriff's Department volunteer Eric Neitzel said everyone feels the impact.
"It's hard on any department, but it's very hard on a small department," he said.
Winchester graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2002 and was hired that September. He said in an earlier Press interview that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, reinforced his desire to be a public servant.
The avid fisherman and hunter, who hailed from a town of 5,000 north of Escanaba, had a nose for drug busts, Herald said. Winchester would make traffic stops and sense that occupants had narcotics, earning a certificate of recognition in 2005 for his effort.
"He had a real knack for that," Herald said. "He was an assertive and aggressive officer."
Yet, Herald said, Winchester was a nice and easy-going guy who was quiet and respectful of command officers and city residents.
As Kim Huizenga left the city's library Wednesday and learned an officer had died, she said police are a big part of the community.
"They're in our schools, our kids know them," Huizenga said. "Each one is an integral part of the city."
Funeral arrangements are pending, and the city will follow the wishes of Winchester's family, Donovan said.
Meanwhile, the department will get back to its routine, Herald said.
"It's important to operate like normal," he said. "Our officers want to work. They want to be here."
Send e-mail to the author: nreens@grpress.com
?®2007 Grand Rapids Press
?® 2007 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.
