CPAM Awards Banquet , Traverse City MI, Oct. 26th, 2021

CPAM's website

Tonight the Crime Prevention Association of MI kicked off the 2021 Fall Annual Conference in Traverse City MI’s Park Place Hotel. The conference is well attended and it’s great to see crime prevention practitioners back together again to “Learn, Collaborate, Share & Connect” this year’s theme.

Our current CPAM Board members:

President - Andrew Kozal, Kent County Sheriff's Office

Vice President- Adam Nothelfer, Saginaw Township Police

Secretary - Julie Niemchick, Grand Rapids Police Dept.

Treasurer - Dave Robinson, Rockford Dept. Of Public Safety

Special Thanks to the Conference & Awards Committee:

Training Chair, Sandi Jones, Kent County Sheriff’s Office

Training Committee Members- Dave Hunt, Wyoming Dept. Of Public Safety, Rick Smiedendorf, Berrien Springs Oronoko, Jeremy Huffman, Grand Rapids Police Dept.

Awards Chair: Ian Graham, Rockford Dept. Of Public Safety

Our evening opened with the Traverse City Police Departments Honor Guard and a welcome from Chief O’Brien, Traverse City Police Department

Ian Graham, Awards Chair did an outstanding job with the introductions of each of the award receipts and their amazing contributions to the crime prevention efforts in their respective communities.

The following awards were presented and congratulated by CPAM President Andy Kozal:

Outstanding Corporate Awards- Ms. Laura Evans, Walmart Alpine Township

2nd Corporate Award- Mr. Andy Picard Meijer’s, Bay City MI 

Special Project in the Field of Crime Prevention:

Sgt. Oswaldo Hernandez & Deputy Marcelo Amanda, Kent County Sheriff’s Office

Outstanding Youth Award: Deputy Jason VanderMolen, Kent County Sheriff’s Office

Outstanding Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year:

Officer Derrick Learned, Grand Rapids Police Dept.

 Boys and Girls Club “Drive For Success”

Special Award / Recognition for Sandi Jones, Retiring from Kent County &

For her years of service to CPAM and being a “Pillar” for the work behind the scenes

Heads or Tails, the last two standing for the 50/50 raffle

Our Keynote Speaker, Comedian David Dyer, who is also a 1st Responder (FF), he provided us with good humor about life and the little things we take for granted, it was great to hear the laughter and see everyone enjoying David and his message. We needed this moment and we are grateful! 

Thanks again David for your ability to reach this tough audience and to kick off this amazing week of “Learning, Collaborating, Sharing & Connecting” CPAM Conference 2021

Rich Coleman, CPAM Blogger / Legislative Rep.