2 Grosse Pointe Park Officers Receive Awards

Grosse Pointe Park Public Safety officers Tom Taylor and Tom Card each earned recognition this year for their work in 2012. The department does not have a public ceremony but instead Director of Public Safety David Hiller gives the awards during roll call and shift meetings.

Taylor, who has been with the department since 2002, received a life-saving award for his work in helping rescue two people from a burning building just over the border in Detroit.

On Jan. 20, 2012, Taylor was working patrol when he spotted heavy smoke coming from a large apartment building at Mack and Balfour. He also spotted two people leaning out an upstairs window gasping for air, Hiller said.

Taylor, who called the fire out on the radio, sprung into action and urged the two people to jump from the window with his promise to catch them to break the fall, Hiller said. Taylor said there was an awning they used to break the fall and then he caught them from the awning.

The building, which is still standing, was gutted by the fire, Hiller said, noting it's all boarded up now. Taylor's work saved the life of two people.

Both people walked away from the scene of the fire after Taylor helped them so officials do not know who they are and were unable to follow up on them, Taylor said.

This was the first time in his career he helped rescue someone from a fire, he said.

Meanwhile, officer Tom Card, who has been with the department since 2008, received a department commendation for his work in a series of home invasions of the same home on Balfour, Hiller said.

Card arrested the burglary suspect on Halloween after spotting him on Mack Avenue, essentially sitting across the street from the targeted house, Card said. The homeowner had video surveillance of the burglary showing the person who had broken in and while patroling on Halloween, Card spotted the man at the bus stop, he said.

Hiller said the arrest was significant because the man had repeatedly burglarized the same home. Hiller complimented Card's attention to detail.

Both officers are appreciative of the recognition, they told Patch.