Ypsilanti Police Chief responds Wednesday to recent comments from President Trump about police conduct.

Publisher & Editor Jeff Brown.

Wednesday afternoon, August 2, 2017, Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti released a statement in response to recent comments made by President Trump regarding police conduct. Chief DeGiusti stated that it has come to his attention that residents are concerned about police conduct after hearing comments made by President Trump about police practices.

In his remarks Wednesday morning Chief DeGiusti acknowledged that events that gather national attention are widely seen and have a direct impact on people who are exposed to them. Chief DeGiusti stated that government concerns are local and that decisions that are made on a local level are decisions that affect local residents. Chief DeGiusti wants to assure local residents that the Ypsilanti Police Department is not influenced by the comments that were made by President Trump, nor is the department influenced by other comments made on a national level.

According to Chief DeGiusti, "We have a culture within the department that promotes service to the community and a mantra that we will treat everyone with dignity and respect. That is who we are and how we conduct ourselves."

 The Chief stated that all working in the Police Department understand the importance of professionalism and appropriate conduct as well as accountability.

According to the statement by Chief DeGiusti, "We hold the guiding principal that we are a welcoming and inclusive community and in that vein we are dedicated to to protecting all that live, work, play and go to school here." We cannot control the speech or actions of others, but we can concentrate on providing the best possible police services to those in need."

Armed robbery on W. Cross Street in Ypsilanti Sunday evening.

Suspect

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to a press release that PWP received from the Ypsilanti Police Department Tuesday afternoon, an armed robbery occurred in the 500 block of W. Cross Street in Ypsilanti around 7:52 pm Sunday, July 30.

According to Ypsilanti Police, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of W. Cross Street in response to a shot fired. The individual who made the call told police that two black males had been seen running from a Grey Jeep parked at Eagles Market. According to police, the Jeep was seen heading West on Cross Street. A victim later entered a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso.

Officers then made contact with the victim. The victim told police that he had met up with two black males and that the two got into his car. The victim told police that the suspect was in the backseat and displayed a black semiautomatic pistol and a struggle occurred over the gun. The victim then started that the gun went off and he was shot. According to Ypsilanti Police, the victim stated that after being shot the two suspects fled his car The victim then went to his nearby home and was taken to the hospital by a roommate.

If you have any additional information regarding this case please contact Lt. Deric Gress at 734-482-9847 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP (773-2587).

President Trump awarded South Haven, MI Vietnam Veteran with Medal of Honor Monday.

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By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

In a Sunday, July 30, 2017 White House press release it was stated that President Trump would be awarding South Haven, Mi resident, Vietnam Veteran and former Specialist Five James C. McCloughan, U.S. Army with the Medal of Honor on Monday, July 31. Tuesday, in front of family members and 10 men from McCloughans former unit in Vietnam, McCloughan was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Trump.

McCloughan received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while fighting against enemy forces near Don Que Vietnam. His actions occurred amid close combat that lasted for 48 hours in May of 1969 when McCloughan was 23 years old. McCloughan had been drafted into the Army.

According to a White House press release, McCloughan, "Voluntarily risked his life on nine separate occasions to rescue wounded and disoriented comrades." During the 48 hours of close combat McCloughan suffered shrapnel and small arms fire wounds on separate occasions, but refused to be evacuated because he wished to remain with his unit as he continued to rescue and treat the wounded amid heavy combat.

Alumni group from Eastern Michigan University Arm of Honor makes donation to Fermentation Science Program at EMU

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

 According to Eastern Michigan University, a group of longtime friends from the Arm of Honor Alumni Association of EMU presented the university with a check for the sum of $2,500. The donation was made to help a new project at Eastern Michigan University called the Fermentation Science Program.

According to the EMU press release, "The Association, a fraternity group of prominent area citizens who went to school together at Eastern Michigan, regularly supports various projects on campus."

The group presented the donation at local favorite watering hole, Arbor Brewing Company's Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Chemistry professors Cory Emal and Gregg Wilmes began the Fermentation Science Program in 2016. The program's mission is to train students for career paths that are based in the fermentation of food and drink. Examples of fermentation drinks would be crafted beer and cider, of course.

Further, food staples like yogurt, cheese and sauerkraut also entail fermentation, according to the press release.

According to EMU, "The program's curriculum combines an understanding of the science of fermentation with a broad background in chemistry, biology and physics.

PWP Writers Alley: Reflections on Flint and Hartford...Yard Goats? By Gerry "Downtown" Brown. Ok, he's my dad!

Contributed by Gerry "Downtown Brown" of West Hartford, Connecticut, formerly of Flint, Mi.

It's about 6: AM on a Thursday in June. I can only see the Sun's rays outside on the grass outside my window. It would seem the local weather people were right. Sunny and less humid.

As I lay in my bed my mind wanders from thoughts of Boston's blown game Wednesday night to thoughts of what I shall have for breakfast. Then for no reason at all, my thoughts move to the Hartford Yard Goats.

I think of it as such a terrible name, surely I could have done much better.

A "Yard Goat" we were told is a locomotive used in freight yards to move box cars into place. Huh? One of the goat mascots is named "Chew Chew." Come on!

I started to think hard, real hard. Let's see - animals. Hartford Bisons-Hartford Hyenas. Uh, uh! Hartford Walrus's! Nah! Hartford Elephants. Uh, uh!

Then my thoughts turn to my adopted city of Flint, Michigan where I spent many wonderful years raising a family and owning a business.

They were good years-coaching Little League Baseball and sand lot football. Great friends-Mike and Kay-Bob and Doris-Barbera and Ben-Al and Sheila. Good times! Flint was at it's Zenith! General Motors was huge. Full employment. Buick Head Quarters. Buick Assembly, Chevrolet engine - truck manufacturing. Delco. Flint was thriving. Perhaps 50,000 in the auto industry. This was in the 60's and 70's.

Then Bam! General Motors pulls out. The documentary movie Roger and Me, which portrayed Flint's downfall, by local native Michael Moore and I'm back in Connecticut. Hartford is an insurance city. How about the Hartford Underwriters? Terrible! The Hartford Premiums- Uh, uh!

Then I finally get it! The Hartford Gorillas - perfect. Can't you see the sports page? Hartford Gorillas take on the Richmond Flying Squirrels - whoa! Wait a minute. Even better. Yeah great! The Hartford "Silver Backs."

The press releases would be outstanding. The mascot would be none other than "King Kong." Wow!

Then my thoughts go back to the Yankees of the late 30's and early 40's. Thoughts of Charlie "King Kong" Keller. King Kong Keller lives again!

Now you tell me- The Hartford Yard Goats or the Hartford "Silver Backs?" No contest.

Writer is 87 years old.