In The News

Each Christmas the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, through generous donations to its Youth and Senior Foundation, provides Christmas for children who have had an especially hard year. Through a partnership with Meijer, we gift these children $200 gift cards and pair them with one of our deputies. The kids get to shop to their hearts content in the toy aisles. We gift their parents with $100 for groceries. None of this would be possible without our title sponsors. Gary Torgow and the Huntington Bancshares Fund, Detroit Prime Concepts, Derek Dickow and Jason Wentworth. We rely on the strength of our substantial Chaplain Corps to give us families they know have been struggling. For the majority of our people, it’s their favorite community event of the entire year.

Our people suited up and came out on a Saturday morning for one of our most cherished partnerships. For the last 7 years, we have partnered with CNS Healthcare to give away hundreds of turkeys to needy families. We keep the line moving, haul all those frozen turkeys off the trucks, and help pass the birds out. We helped feed 800 families this year! Our WCSO family volunteers their time to make it all happen. 

So much candy. Our deputies set up the best Halloween Trunk R Treat in cooperation with the North Rosedale Park Civic Association. Hundreds of children got spiffed up in their costumes and were overjoyed to hit every single trunk. There was laughing, dancing and a whole lot of fun (and Reese’s cups).

The WCSO runs the largest jail in the state. The reality is many of the people in our custody aren’t going to prison but back to their communities. We want to send them back in a position to succeed. Key to that is basic identification. So many of those housed here don’t have identification. It’s virtually impossible to get housing or a job without an ID. This is why we’re partnering with the Michigan Department of State. The MDOS will be sending its mobile unit to the Wayne County Jail. Inmates that qualify for state IDs or driver’s licenses will be able to get them before they are released. The Sheriff is adamant that he wants to return people in better shape than when they came in. We welcome this collaboration with the MDOS and are hopeful it cuts down on recidivism

It’s hard to say goodbye to your partner. Hogan, or Hoagie as he’s affectionately called, just turned 20. He’s been a Wayne County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit member since 2008. Hogan is the leader of the herd and is ridden by Sgt. Lacey Polderdyke. She’ll tell you he’s patient with children, loves Rice Krispies treats, and never misses an opportunity to play in Newburgh Lake. WXYZ-TV captured the bond between the two, and we appreciate their care in telling Hogan’s story.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STORY FROM WXYZ DETROIT

It was such a special night. Our latest Academy class of 40 took the oath and received their badges in a beautiful ceremony on the steps of the CJC. Members of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans’ team were on hand to congratulate the graduates. When Sheriff Washington took to the podium, he immediately asked the new deputies, who were all sitting at attention, to relax. He wanted them to really listen as he spoke directly to them. “You are in control of your career here, and it is a career, not just a job,” Washington said. He wanted them to absorb that the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has multiple career paths, and it is up to them to choose their destiny. The joy and love from the graduates’ friends and family was overflowing. So many happy tears and smiles as we all adjourned to the lobby of the new building for pictures and a lovely [...]

200 campers from 5-14 spent the weekend pitching tents, eating s’mores, playing games, dancing, getting their faces painted, and meeting our horses and dogs. It’s all a part of the Sheriff’s Office youth outreach to children in underserved communities. The reality is summer camps are expensive. For many families the ability to send their children to a sleepaway camp is just not financially feasible. We provide this opportunity so they can have that experience. Our people volunteer their time for the entire weekend to help run games, check in campers, prepare food, and give the kids a wonderful experience.