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Upton named U-M Police Officer of the Year >
On Feb. 26, 2008, university staff member Mariann Christy called the Department of Public Safety to report a suspicious male subject wandering in and out of offices on the fourth floor of the Thomas Francis Jr. Building.
Christy provided a description and whereabouts of the suspect, who was located and apprehended by police.
Prior to this incident, there had been reported thefts in several university buildings over three weeks. An investigation by Officers Margie Pillsbury and Scott Cook revealed video images of the suspect using stolen debit/credit cards at area businesses.
Christy’s actions played a key role in the subsequent arrest of a subject later charged with several criminal offenses. For her contributions, she received a Crime Prevention Award from DPS at a ceremony March 26. Pillsbury and Cook received Letters of Appreciation.
Other honors given out during the ceremony include:
• Housing Officer Matthew Stewart-Fulton and Housing Lt. Charles McDermott, Letters of Appreciation, for work to solve a March 8, 2008, breaking and entering at Martha Cook Residence Hall.
• Graduate student Christopher Stefano, Abracadabra store owners Steven and Katherine Lesse, and store employee Summer Mathewson, Loss Prevention Awards; DPS Officers Jose Dorta, Michael Mathews, Kevin Lucas, Sgt. Robert Soichet, Lt. Melissa Overton and Lt. Robert Neumann, Citation for Professional Excellence, for their role in the recovery of rare gemstones taken from the C.C. Little Building in March 2008.
• U-M Hospital Security Sgt. Latreece Taylor, Meritorious Service Citation; DPS Officers Susan Upton and Paula Williams, Letter of Appreciation; Officer Margie Pillsbury, Professional Excellence Citation, for the June 2008 investigation of a mother suspected of attempting to kill her 6-week-old infant.
• Plant Operations staff member Fred Voss Jr., Crime Prevention Award, for helping to prevent a theft of telephone wire June 14, 2008.
• Ann Arbor Meijer employee Christopher Hiemstra, Loss Prevention Award; DPS Officer Nicholas Elliot, Certificate of Commendation; Officer Scott Cook, Professional Excellence Citation, for their assistance and work on several larcenies at U-M Hospital between March and July 2008.
• Zone Maintenance Supervisor Camie Munsell and Maintenance Services Administrator James Vibbart, Crime Prevention Award, for helping apprehend a suspect in the possible theft of copper from the Health Services Building.
• Communications Officer Erin Dorta and DPS Officer Susan Upton, Letter of Appreciation, for their roles in apprehending a criminal sexual assault suspect Aug. 3, 2008.
• DPS Officer Akin Bryant, Letter of Appreciation, for actions that led to the apprehension of a person who fled the scene of an Aug. 8, 2008, crash on I-94.
• David Lee and Albert Zangrilli from the U-M ROTC program, Crime Prevention Award; DPS Officers Orlando Featherstone and Joseph Anderson, Letter of Appreciation, for observations and actions that led to the apprehension of a suspect linked to a breaking-and-entering at North Hall Aug. 13, 2008.
• U-M Hospital Security Officer Nicholas Elliot and DPS Officer Scott Cook, Professional Excellence Citation; Hospital Security Lt. Corbie Wells, Letter of Appreciation, for their role in identifying and apprehending a suspect in larcenies from U-M Hospital in August 2008.
• Ann Arbor Police Officer Travis Strang, Letter of Commendation, for helping to locate a missing disabled man after the U-M vs. Utah football game, Aug. 30, 2008.
• DPS Lt. Melissa Overton and Sgt. Michelle Chatell, Certificate of Commendation, for their role in apprehending a suspect in a breaking and entering Sept. 30, 2008.
• DPS Officer Richard Zavala, Professional Excellence Citation, for his role in the investigation of a string of computer thefts at the central campus and medical campus during 2008.
• Alumnus Bret Chaness (’08), Citizens Public Service Award, for efforts to enhance crime prevention, including a laptop lock program and a signup program for the U-M Emergency Alert System.
• DPS Lt. Jesse Lewit and Officer Heather McDonald, Professional Excellence Citation, for work leading to DPS’ anticipated accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
