Utica Honors Police Heroes

There are heroes among us, and they were honored during the when the t handed out its annual awards.

Interim Police Chief presented Sgt. Sean Coady and Officer Doug Julien with the Life Saving Award for an incident that took place in May, in which they saved the life of .

Coady and Julien were participating in a firearms training session at the Detroit Sportsmen Congress in Shelby Township while members of the OUPD were conducting a similar training session at an adjacent range. That afternoon, Godwin suffered a cardiac arrest.

Julien was en route back to the city of Utica when the emergency occurred. He heard the emergency call dispatched by the Shelby Township Police Department. He realized that help was at hand—Coady was still at the range and had an AED available in his patrol car. Julien called Coady, who immediately responded to the adjacent range and assisted OUPD officers in reviving Godwin. Dr. Brett Todd of Troy-Beaumont Hospital, who treated Godwin, credited the AED with saving Godwin’s life.

Godwin was on hand to see Coady and Julien honored for their quick thinking. It was the first time he met them since his cardiac arrest in May.

“My brother quipped that it is better to be seen than be viewed,” Godwin said in emotional remarks. “I’m here to be seen because of the efforts of Officers Coady and Julien. My family, my friends, my co-workers—and mostly me—owe them a debt that can’t be repaid.”

Officer Doug Julien was the recipient of another Life Saving Award along with Officer Michael Roberts. Julien and Roberts were dispatched to Cass apartments on a subject not breathing. The officers found the subject had suffered a heart attack and had no pulse. They began CPR immediately and continued until they were relieved by the Utica Fire Department ALS crew, who succeeded in reviving the victim. Julien’s and Roberts’ efforts contributed to sustaining the subject’s life.

Dispatcher Maureen Niedieck was also presented with a Life Saving Award for a 911 call she received last fall from a person who was threatening to take his own life. Niedieck was able to keep the person on the phone and gain his trust. During the conversation, Niedieck was able to detect clues to the caller’s whereabouts and dispatched officers to the location. Officers were able to locate the caller and provide the necessary help to keep him from harming himself or others.

Officers Kurt Sharrow and Randy Plante were both awarded Merit Citations. Sharrow was honored for foiling potential thieves who were casing the area of Hahn and Harry. Sharrow noticed the two suspicious men who were riding bikes, wearing dark clothing and carrying a dark backpack. When the suspects were stopped, Sharrow noticed that they threw the backpack under his vehicle. The backpack contained gloves, pry bar and other tools. The suspects were both on parole for home invasion and Sharrow’s actions resulted in the arrest of one of the suspects and the prevention of possible criminal activity.

Plante was recognized for initiating a traffic stop last July in which he discovered narcotics in the vehicle, leading to the driver’s arrest. He conducted an investigation and subsequent interview with the suspect, which revealed information regarding other narcotic activity. Plante’s investigation led to the arrest of a second individual dealing in illegal prescription drugs and the recovery of 350 pills. The suspect was successfully prosecuted.

In a Group Merit Citation, Officers Kurt Sharrow and Greg Morabito were recognized for their work on a home invasion investigation in March. Through interviewing the victim and other witnesses, the officers were able to develop a possible suspect. Thorough investigative work eliminated that suspect and led them to another. After obtaining a search warrant for the suspects’ home, they were able to recover the victim’s stolen property. The suspects later confessed to the crime.

Officer Michael Wilber was honored with a Letter of Commendation for his work as an assisting officer at a larceny from a vehicle call. Wilber inspected the area near the crime scene and located the stolen items hidden under a vehicle which was determined to be the vehicle used by the suspect. Wilber’s actions resulted in an arrest and the recovery of the victim’s property.

Dispatcher Donna Anderson also received a Letter of Commendation for her work in completing the Utica Police Department’s Wall of Honor. Anderson collected photos, patches, badges for the Wall of Honor, which pays tribute to the only  Utica police officer killed in the line of duty, all former chiefs, retired officers and dispatchers as well as deceased employees. Raelle Plante was honored was honored with a Citizen's Letter of Recognition for the artwork she created, which is the focal point of the Wall of Honor.

Culminating the award ceremony, Greg “Hound Dog” Morabito was named Officer of the Year. It is the third time he has won the honor.  Morabito has been with the department since 2001. He was chosen for the constant commitment to reduce retail theft and fraud in local businesses. Morabito was humble after receiving the award.  When asked how he felt about the honor, he said, “I’m not great with words. I just do what I got to do, and get lucky sometimes.”

Mayor Jacqueline Noonan expressed her pride in Utica’s Police Department after the ceremony concluded.

“It’s a small department, but mighty," Noonan said. "We have the best trained and most proficient officers, and we’re very proud of all of them,” she said.