Alert officer diverts possible tragedy
A stop for gas turned a father-son drive into a potential life threatening incident for two local law enforcement officers Sunday.
When the father went in to pay for gas at the EZ-GO store on I-44 north of Chickasha, the son saw an individual in a vehicle next to them put on a bandana like a mask and remove a switchblade knife from his pocket, reported Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Steven Mitchell.
“Andrew Peck hollered at his dad (Roger Peck) and said ‘Wait! The guy just put on a mask!’”
Ironically, Andrew is a law enforcement officer with the Grady County Sheriff’s Office and Roger is a lieutenant with OHP. And further irony is that one of the OHP Troop G field offices is located right across the highway from the EZ-GO. Several troopers were on the scene within minutes of the call.
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KC Officers Help With Baby’s Delivery
Angie Johnson’s daughter was writhing on her bathroom floor in pain overnight.
She knew the 20-year-old’s pains were coming fast and furious. But as Johnson talked to a 911 dispatcher, she never imaged that Michelle was about to get birth right there on the bathroom floor because it was more than two months ahead of Michelle’s due date.
“I called 911 and when I was talking to the 911 dispatcher, the baby just came out,” Johnson told KMBC’s Martin Augustine.
Officer Annamarie Occhipinto
Kansas City Police Officer Steve Downing and his partner, Officer Annamarie Occhipinto, were rushing to Johnson’s side about 12:45 a.m. Monday. Johnson handed the baby to the officers.
“I handed her the baby. I had scooped him up and put him in a towel and I handed him to her,” Johnson said.
13 Promoted at Sheriff’s Office Including New Chief of Staff
Judd swears in Lester during the promotional ceremony Friday. Lester replaces Gary Hester. ERNST PETERS | THE LEDGER
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd swore in his second-in-command Friday, along with 12 other deputies who received promotions.
Steve Lester, 48, promoted from detention chief, now serves as the sheriff’s chief of staff. He joined the department about 25 years ago as a deputy. Lester replaces Gary Hester, who left the Sheriff’s Office to become the Winter Haven Police Department chief.
“I always knew I had what it takes to rise to the top,” Lester said. “I’m extremely humbled.”
The promotions were made in a ceremony at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office headquarters before a crowd of more than 400, Judd said.
New Portage County K-9 Baco means business
Baco is like most young dogs.
He likes to meet new people. He goes nuts when he sees a tennis ball. And he spends a lot of time sniffing around.
But the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois with bronze fur and tall, almost rabbit-like ears, does have one thing that makes him different from other dogs scampering around town.
He has a job with the Portage County Sheriff’s Department.
The department bought Baco earlier this year to replace the department’s former dog, who left when the department’s last K-9 officer took a job with another agency. The dog has been working alongside the county’s new K-9 officer, Deputy Dan Wachowiak, for the last two months.
During that time, Baco has searched cars for drugs and accompanied officers serving search warrants. He even helped track a 13-year-old boy who went missing in Park Ridge on July 9.
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Fundraisers held to support K-9 units
This climate of budget cuts makes it tough for cities to take care of their four-legged police officers. The Vallejo Police Department will pull three of its four K-9 unit dogs off the streets on Saturday, but a Bay Area group is raising money this weekend so other departments won’t have to take drastic action. 
The K-9 “Zeus” may look like a playful dog, but when he’s at work he’s all business, like when he recently hunted down a criminal hiding in a tiny space between two buildings.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE/VIDEO HERE
Michigan State Police Approve Three Year Deal
Michigan State troopers have ratified a three-year contract with the state that includes structural changes in health care and wage increases.
The State of Michigan said in a release Thursday that 81 percent of the Michigan State Police Troopers Association voted to approve the agreement that ends December 2011.
Troopers will not receive a wage increase in the first year of the contract, a 1 percent increase in the second year, and 2 percent in the third year. Health care plan changes are expected to offset the wage increases.
Governor Jennifer Granholm said “tough economic times and financial pressures on the state budget” required structural changes in employee benefits.
Chris Luty, president of the trooper’s union, said the deal is a “positive for state troopers.”
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