Residents, neighboring community officials and city council members took the opportunity to commend both the Romulus Fire Department and Police Department at a meeting earlier this month.
During the public comment portion of the meeting June 14, a resident of Gloria Street in the city addressed members of the city council regarding a fire which took place near her home. She explained that because of a serious crash on I-94 at the same time that day, when two small children were seriously injured, only a single firefighter was available to respond to the scene.
She said he arrived by himself and fought the blaze alone while awaiting aide from the Metro Airport and Westland fire departments.
“He needs to be recognized,” she told the council members and mayor. “He was phenomenal,” she said. “When the Metro Airport crew arrived, they had the fire under control in minutes,” she said.
Her comments followed remarks of Mayor Pro tem John Barden who told the council that he had received a letter from Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara about the performance of the Romulus Fire Department in a recent emergency situation.
“I wish to express my appreciation to the City of Romulus Fire Department for their willingness to assist at the Harbour Club Apartment fire in our community,” McNamara said in the letter. He said that the efforts of the Romulus firefighters were invaluable in efforts to save residents during the emergency.
“It is highly reassuring to know our community can count on professional assistance from our neighboring communities,” he said.
Romulus police officers also received praise from an outside agency for their handling of a May 17 situation when a 4-year-old autistic child was found wandering, unaccompanied in the community. A representative of the Third Circuit Court wrote to the city expressing his appreciation and admiration for the manner in which officers handled the incident.
“Kudos for the expert handling of this situation. Your officers deserve a pat on the back,” he said. “This is the best, most professional response I have ever seen,” to a situation with a special needs child, the letter continued.
City Councilwoman Tina Talley said that the Romulus Building Department should also be recognized for the recent shut down of two illegal marijuana growing operations in the city, tracked down by an extreme use of electrical power.
“We just need them to know that their work doesn't go unnoticed,” she said.
Council members agreed, commenting that the fire department was just recently awarded licensing as an Advanced Life Support agency, a long-time goal of the city.
Mayor LeRoy Burcroff said that he felt the city public safety department was due the accolades and that they were “out there, doing the job every day” despite the challenges of the pandemic.
“They do a phenomenal job, day-in and day-out,” Burcroff said.
Both Burcroff and Krause suggested that the exemplary performance of the public safety department staff deserve recognition during the next Hometown Heroes event in the community.
