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Mackinac Island Welcomes Four Police Officers to Seasonal Staff
"It's a different approach because we're here to help the people, and if it means we have to go outside the law enforcement arena to do it, then we will," he said. The seasonal officers will work until October. "I believe the four that we have hired are going to be excellent officers, and are going to work well into the community," said the chief. Officer Randy Gagnon Randy Gagnon is originally from Redford, a suburb of Detroit, but his love for Mackinac Island stems from his childhood summer visits to a family-owned home on French Lane. After spending four years in the Marines, Mr. Gagnon enrolled in the Schoolcraft College Police Academy and was graduated last November.
"I've always liked it up here," he said. "It's a relaxing atmosphere." Officer Gagnon will be patrolling downtown on foot this summer in addition to responding to calls that come into the station. "My biggest goal, being that it's seasonal, is just [to get] good experience," he said. "This is a nice place to go and just get some experience." Mr. Gagnon will seek a fulltime job after he leaves Mackinac Island this fall, but said he would like to come back next summer, if the situation allows it. Officer Kirk Parker Kirk Parker started April 30 and will be patrolling the downtown area and responding to calls on foot and bicycle. After a stint in the Army, Mr. Parker went through the academy at Northwestern Michigan Community College in his hometown of Traverse City. "I used to want to be a pilot, and once I started college, that's when I started getting interested in law enforcement," he said. So far he has seen limited action, but expects that all to change when the peak tourist season heats up.
He's already learned a lot from Chief Lenaghan and the other senior officers and hopes to come out of this summer with a wealth of new experience to help him in the full-time job search. "My goal is just to try to learn as much as I can, because this is a field that you learn something new every day and, if you don't, something's wrong," he said. Officer Chris Zuellig Chris Zuellig came to Mackinac Island because he wants to get back into police work. "I missed it," he said, "and I have a lot of years left to give." Officer Zuellig retired from the Detroit Police Department in 2004 and now hopes to get back in law enforcement full time. This summer, he'll be patrolling the downtown area and responding to calls whenever needed. He started May 7. "I've always liked the area," he said. "I've been coming up here all my life, and the opportunity presented itself. I want to get back into law enforcement and continue another career with another agency."
He'll be moving to the Cheboygan area soon and said he will take any opportunity that presents itself after he's done on Mackinac Island. Officer Jim Myers Jim Myers returns for his second summer of seasonal police duty on the Island. Unlike his first season of work, Mr. Myers now works mostly nights, dealing with the bar crowds and other evening events in addition to any calls that come into the station. "I like it," he said. "It's a nice, small community. I like the businesses, tourism." Aside from working on the Island, the only other connection Officer Myers has with Mackinac Island is a short vacation he took three years ago. Originally from the metro-Detroit area, he was graduated from Michigan State University in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice, prior to enrolling in the Oakland Police Academy. He hopes to find a job downstate following his work on the Island. |
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