Grosse Pointe Park public safety officers show support for new member of department

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Grosse Pointe Park’s newest public safety officer already has her colleagues behind her.

When Public Safety Director Bryan Jarrell introduced officer Emily McGrath to the Park City Council at a meeting Jan. 9, her family was there to show their support — and so were the other officers on McGrath’s shift.

Mayor Michele Hodges said the number of officers in attendance was a “fantastic testament to the camaraderie” within the department.

Jarrell said McGrath is a graduate of the Lake Superior State University Police Academy and has an associate degree in law enforcement and homeland security from Lake Superior State University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from LSSU.

Jarrell held aloft a thick folder that he said contained McGrath’s many certifications. They include radar traffic enforcement, first aid and CPR, threat pattern recognition, emergency management, and implicit bias and how it impacts law enforcement, among many others.

“We’re very fortunate to have someone of your caliber,” Hodges said.

Family members in attendance included McGrath’s mom and dad, her stepmom, and a cousin. Although she said she has a distant cousin who’s a police officer, McGrath said she doesn’t come from a law enforcement family.

For the last seven years, Jarrell said, McGrath has served as a member of the Oakland University Police Department.

“I took a chance and did a ride-along (with public safety) and absolutely fell in love with the city and the department,” said McGrath, 30, of Ferndale.

Fellow officers on hand included officer Esho Matty, who’s been with the Park for two years.

“With her education, she’ll be a big asset to this community,” said Matty, adding that McGrath’s colleagues would “work beside her and help her succeed.”

Sgt. Steve Thiel, a 22-year veteran of the department, said McGrath brings “a wealth of knowledge and experience.”

“We’re just happy to have her here,” Thiel said.

Officer Brady Baetens, one of the department’s training officers, echoed that sentiment, saying McGrath was “going to be a good asset to the department.”

McGrath’s training officer, Scott Gilchrist, likewise welcomed his new colleague.

“We’re happy to have a new officer in our department that has prior experience,” Gilchrist said.

McGrath started working in the city in early January, training with existing officers.

The Park is a different environment from the college campus setting where McGrath previously worked.

“I’m excited to see what opportunities the community has for me here,” McGrath said.

Jarrell said McGrath would be attending the fire academy at the end of February. She’s expected to complete all her training by June.