Meet New GP Farms Detective Bryan Ford

Bryan Ford grew up going to the Harper Woods Police Department with his dad. He always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a police officer and eventually the chief in Harper Woods. 

And that is just what he did. 

Ford is the newest addition to the detective bureau in . He's been with the department for 17 years and he replaced Rick Good, who retired in December. 

Ford is working with Detective John Walko and Lt. Richard Rosati, who oversees the detective bureau. Leading up to his promotion, Ford worked as a patrol officer.

He has also been on the multi-department special weapons and tactic (SWAT) team in the Pointes, the Special Response Team for several years and a field training officer. He enjoyed training others.

"A lot of people can't say they enjoy work every day," Ford said. "I can."

Ford is looking most forward to seeing cases through to the end as a detective and making those who have committed a crime accept responsibility for it. As a public safety officer, generally Ford took the initial report about a case and then passed it along, he said.

Ford has been working toward a promotion for a while. He has an associate's degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University. He attended the Macomb Police Academy after earning his degree and then was hired in at Grosse Pointe Farms in 1995.

Ford has been taking advanced police courses ever since, he said. Among the classes are: evidence, interview and interrogation, computer crimes, cell phone technology and detective school. 

He will remain on the SRT swat team, he said, noting he'll step down if it becomes a conflict or to be too much with his new schedule. 

In addition to the job itself, Ford is looking forward to working with Rosati and Walko. When he began on the midnight-shift in 1995, Rosati trained him as a rookie and he's anxious to learn from him again in his new role. 

At home, Ford enjoys golf, snow mobiling, downhill skiing and going to the gym. His loves spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife for 15 years and they have two children. 

Ford has been married to his wife for 15 years. They have two children.

He also likes "talking shop" with his dad, retired Harper Woods Police Chief Gary Ford, he said, noting how much he's enjoyed being able to work in the area where he grew up. Ford attended Grosse Pointe Schools and graduated from .

He worked at when he was young and even coached JV football at North for one season, which he enjoyed. He was not able to continue after he and his wife started their family. 

Ford replaces Rick Good, who retired from the department in December. The department tricked Good into a retirement party at because he otherwise would not have attended such an event. 

His former partner, detective John Walko who is now working with Ford, described Good as the best partner he ever had. Walko said after being in law enforcement for 26 years he did not think there was much left to learn but Good proved him wrong. Walko learned more from Good than he did from any other partner he's worked with in his career, he said.