Rice, who was officially sworn in as an officer on Dec. 6, formerly served as a Westland Police Explorer for four years and then as a Westland Police Service Aide for two years. His exemplary service and ability led to his promotion to a trainer and he was then granted the unique “Chief's Exemption” and allowed to test for a police officer position. Rice, who grew up in Garden City and graduated from Garden City High School, obtained his associates degree in criminal justice from Schoolcraft College and then graduated from the Wayne County Regional Police Academy.
“In an effort to recruit officers and diversify the police department, the Westland Police Department offers a “Chief's Exemption Program” to our Police Service Aide employees,” commented Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik. “Police Service Aides are part time employees who work in the jail, answer non-emergency calls, transport prisoners to/from court, and assist the officers with day-to-day duties. If a Police Service Aide works for a minimum of eight months, he/she has positive performance evaluations and based on approval of the chief, they are provided the ability to take the police civil service test without the requirement of the police academy.”
“The Westland Police Service Aide program continues to serve as an excellent feeder program to attract bright, young talent to our department,” commented Mayor William R. Wild. “We are pleased to welcome Officer Rice and wish him the best in his future career, here in Westland.”
