Residents honored for service to community

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department recently recognized five residents for making the township a better and safer place to live.

“It’s just an honor for us to be able to recognize our citizens who really help us out,” Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher said during the Oct. 24 Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Gallagher presented Aaron James Hatchett with the Distinguished Citizen Award for his swift thinking on Oct. 1. Hatchett was traveling north on I-75 when he noticed another driver who appeared to be having a medical emergency. The driver was unconscious behind the wheel of the vehicle, which was scraping along the median wall, so authorities said Hatchett took it upon himself to drive in front of the vehicle and intentionally allow it to hit him in order to bring the car to a stop. Hatchett then waited at the scene for emergency responders. Police later discovered that the driver was overdosing on fentanyl and needed immediate medical treatment.

“Without Aaron’s keen observation and quick action, this individual might have suffered a fatal result or may have killed someone else on the road, an innocent person,” Gallagher explained.

Gallagher thanked Hatchett for taking action and honored him with the Distinguished Citizen Award during the Oct. 24 meeting.

“I haven’t got an award since I graduated from college,” Hatchett said with a chuckle.

On July 19, Jennifer Dowling was traveling with her daughter northbound on Telegraph Road and noticed an individual in the Lowe’s parking lot who appeared to be sleeping. Dowling pulled in the lot to check on the well-being of the man and found him unresponsive. She dialed 911, and with the help of dispatch personnel, began life-saving treatment. The man, emergency responders later discovered, was suffering from diabetic shock. He was transported to the hospital by the Bloomfield Township Fire Department.

Dowling received a Letter of Appreciation for her actions.

“Without Jennifer’s keen observation and quick action, this individual might have suffered a fatal result,” Gallagher said.

Catherine MacKenzie, Irina Bongiorno and Addy Shattuck each received a Letter of Appreciation for volunteering at the Bloomfield Township Animal Shelter.

MacKenzie, Gallagher said, “goes above and beyond” for animals and “is first in line when needed.”

Bongiorno comes to the animal shelter “almost every day” to walk the dogs that are housed inside.

“Irina’s willingness to take time out of her day to spend time with the dogs at the shelter is deeply appreciated and deserves to be acknowledged,” Gallagher said.

Shattuck, Gallagher noted, has helped at the animal shelter in a variety of ways over the years.

“She has donated food for the dogs, cats, birds and other small animals. She has taken cats, rabbits and guinea pigs and made it her mission to find them decent homes. Her willingness to watch over the animals at the shelter is deeply appreciated, and she deserves to be acknowledged for her love of the animals,” said Gallagher. “It’s truly a treasured gift.”

The Bloomfield Township Animal Shelter, a branch of the Police Department, provides temporary housing for lost and stray animals. The center, at 4200 Telegraph Road, is staffed 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays. Staff care for the animals overnight and on the weekends, when the building is closed to the public. The shelter, through contract, also supports lost and stray animals from the city of Birmingham.

For more information, to donate or to get more information about adopting an animal, call the shelter at (248) 433-7757.