Jackson resident is named MSP 'Trooper of Year'

Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue has announced that Sgt. Michael Church of the Traffic Safety Division is the 2010 recipient of the Dr. Carl A. Gerstacker Trooper of the Year Award. Church enlisted with the department in 1995, graduating as a member of the 111th Trooper Recruit School. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Jackson Post, where he served until his promotion to sergeant in July 2010. Church lives in Jackson with his wife, Jacqueline, and has four children. The Gerstacker Award recognizes the MSP trooper or sergeant who symbolizes outstanding professional ethics, dedication to duty and a concern for giving back to their community. The late Dr. Carl A. Gerstacker, former chairman of Dow Chemical Company, created the award in 1961. ''Sergeant Church's exemplary work performance, demonstrated leadership skills and extensive community involvement make him an excellent choice for this year's Trooper of the Year,'' Etue said. Church was recently promoted to a staff position in the MSP Traffic Safety Division, Traffic Services Section after serving as a trooper at the Jackson Post since 1995. Last year, while working at the Jackson Post, Church made 45 arrests for Operating a vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI) and/or Operating a vehicle With Presence of Drugs (OWPD). As a result of his efforts, he was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving with their 2009 Lifesaver Award. Also during his time at the Jackson Post, Church was assigned as the post's Sex Offender Registry Coordinator. In a 13-month period, he is credited with investigating 160 sex offender registry violations, leading to many arrests and prosecutions of non-compliant offenders. In 2008, Church graduated Magna Cum Laude from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law with a Juris Doctorate. He passed the Michigan Bar Exam in 2009, and has been admitted to the State Bar as an attorney in good standing. "Church has repeatedly used his legal education for the betterment of his community and the department," an MSP spokesperson said. "He has provided pro-bono legal assistance to community members and was instrumental in the publication of the current edition of the Criminal Law and Procedure Manual used by police officers across the state. "Additionally, he has served as a legal instructor at the American Legion and Kiwanis Youth Academies held each summer at the MSP Training Academy. "Outside of work, Church is recognized as an advocate for degenerative neuromuscular disease, a medical condition his daughter suffers from. "He has appeared as a speaker at the Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual 'Lock Up' event and is active in the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) community." Published: Mon, Jan 24, 2011

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