Some of the graduates of the first Southgate Citizens Public Safety Academy class join with Mayor Joseph Kuspa (left), who attended the program, and Public Safety Director Joseph Marsh (10th from left), Police Chief Mark Mydlarz (11th from left) and Fire Chief Justin Graves (right) during the March 5 City Council study session.
Southgate Mayor Joseph Kuspa speaks about the successful conclusion of the inaugural Citizen Public Safety Academy class during the March 5 City Council study session.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE – The city celebrated the successful graduation of its first Citizen Public Safety Academy class during the March 5 City Council study session.
The eight-week program, which began in January, provided an in-depth look at the city’s police and fire departments.
Mayor Joseph Kuspa, who also attended the program, said members of the city’s public safety departments met with the participants to discuss a wide variety of important topics, which included emergency preparedness, police training and certifications, school safety, the Downriver Special Weapons and Tactics team, crash investigations, criminal justice, and the K-9 unit, which included a live demonstration.
He said the group also received behind-the-scenes tours of the police and fire stations.
“I originally was only going to attend the first session, but found the presentations and discussions very interesting, so I ended up attending all of the sessions,” Kuspa said. “I truly enjoyed the topics that were covered and the interaction with our residents.”
The mayor commended Public Safety Director Joe Marsh for bring the idea forward, which they originally discussed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to Kuspa, the participants were Pat Poirier, Katherine and Richard Sands, Gary Martin, Natalie Holzhueter, Elizabeth De Dios, Laurie King, Rose Heckman, Debi Domby, Carla Hines, Norm Loveday and Robert Hines.
“I would like to acknowledge each member and thank them for taking an interest in learning more about our city and public safety departments that serve all of us,” Kuspa said.
Richard Sands said he enjoyed the program.
“I would certainly recommend it for the Downriver area for all the communities,” he said.
Heckman said the program was exciting and the information the participants learned educational.
She praised the well-trained public safety employees who presented the material.
“I have to say I was so proud by the end of the class to be a citizen of Southgate, that we have such a well-trained police department, accredited by the state of Michigan,” Heckman said. “I think that really needs to expand to the whole Downriver area.”
She said she would encourage anyone in the city to attend a future session.
Poirier said it was a great program, and echoed the participant thanks to the Police and Fire departments for all the work they invested to put the program together.
“It was three hours every night for eight weeks,” he said. “That’s a lot of time to fill up, and I just really appreciate all the hard work that they did, and I’m a better citizen because of it.”
Southgate Citizen Public Safety Academy graduate Pat Poirier (at podium) speaks during the March 5 City Council study session, as Mayor Joseph Kuspa (left), City Administrator Dan Marsh, and participants Rose Heckman and Richard Sands listen.