Michigan State Police [ [link removed] ]

"*News Release*"



*State Police Employees Recognized with Awards
for Extraordinary Service*

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? August 8, 2024*

*LANSING, MICH. *?Several Michigan State Police (MSP) members received awards and recognition yesterday at a ceremony in Lansing honoring their commitment and service to the people and communities of Michigan. The presentations were part of the department?s Employee Recognition Ceremony which highlights members who have earned promotion, achieved 30 years of service and injured in the line of duty.

?Our members amaze me,? said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. ?They provide exceptional customer service selflessly across the state every single day. They are creating a Michigan where everyone feels safe and secure.?

*Meritorious Service Award* ? D/Sgt. Anthony Utt, Alpena Post

D/Sgt. Anthony Utt, assigned to the Alpena Post, received the Meritorious Service Award for his extreme dedication and perseverance managing and solving a complex and high-profile case involving the disappearance and homicides of two young women in Alpena County. The investigation began in August 2021 with the disappearance of a 17-year-old female. Detectives later learned there was a second female victim, someone who had witnessed the first homicide.

D/Sergeant Utt spent hundreds of hours investigating, writing reports and documenting property. In total, there were 85 interviews conducted and more than 70 search warrants obtained and executed.

In February 2024, the suspect was found guilty of two counts of first-degree premeditated homicide and three other felonies related to both homicides.

*Meritorious Service Award *? Ms. Elizabeth Wandrei, Intelligence Operations Division ? Third District

Ms. Elizabeth Wandrei received the Meritorious Service Award for her professionalism, diligence, and perseverance during a complex homicide investigation in Lapeer County dating back to 2011.

In her role as a criminal intelligence analyst, Wandrei provided hundreds of hours assisting investigators with intelligence gathering on a suspect over the course of several years while also coordinating with federal and out-of-state police agencies. Her criminal intelligence gathering played a crucial role in locating information related to the homicide, which ultimately assisted investigators in locating and arresting the suspect out of state.

*Bravery and Lifesaving Awards* ? Tprs Myles Redmond and Emily Spoeri, Flint Post
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Sgt. Louis Velaga, Intelligence Operations Division?

Tprs Myles Redmond and Emily Spoeri, assigned to the Flint Post, and Sgt. Louis Velaga, previously assigned to the Flint Post and now assigned to the Intelligence Operations Division, received the Bravery and Lifesaving awards for their heroic actions during a critical incident.

In October 2023, Troopers Redmond and Spoeri and Sergeant Velaga responded to a house fire where a child was inside a locked, back bedroom. The trio repeatedly entered the burning and smoke-filled home searching for the child knowingly exposing themselves to serious injury. After several attempts, with the smoke thickening and unable to breathe, they broke out the bedroom window to attempt to clear the smoke so they could return inside. ?

Firefighters located the child as well as a second person, both of whom weren?t breathing so the troopers began CPR and soon were breathing on their own. Both were transported to the hospital in serious, but stable condition.?

Also included during yesterday's ceremony was presentation of the department?s newest award, the Blue Diamond Citation which was created to honor department members who were seriously injured. Fourteen current and former department members received the award for incidents that occurred over the last 30 years, spanning critical incidents from 1991 to 2024. All 56 of our fallen troopers have been posthumously awarded the Blue Diamond in recognition of their sacrifice.

Nearly 40 members were recognized for earning promotion since the previous ceremony in February.

The MSP formally recognizes its members twice a year for length of service, promotions and extraordinary deeds.

*###*

*MEDIA CONTACT:*
Breanna Ballinger, MSP Communications & Outreach Division, [email protected]


* Meritorious-Wandrei.jpg [ [link removed] ]
* Meritorious-Utt.jpg [ [link removed] ]
* Bravery Award-Redmond and Spoeri.jpg [ [link removed] ]

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* Meritorious-Wandrei.jpg [ [link removed] ]
* Meritorious-Utt.jpg [ [link removed] ]
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