Media contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; 248.651.7536 cell: 586.817.8414; barbara@eafocus.com; Stephanie Carroll, City of Auburn Hills; 248.364.6802; scarroll@auburnhills.org
Auburn Hills, MI—July 1, 2013—The city of Auburn Hills is pleased to announce Director of Emergency Services/Chief of Police Doreen E. Olko of the Auburn Hills Police Department is the recipient of the Presidential Medal from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP). The medal was awarded on June 25 at ceremonies held at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Mich. and presented for outstanding and extraordinary professional and personal service to the criminal justice system, the law enforcement profession and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
Criteria for nomination of the medal include long-term contributions to criminal justice and law enforcement via membership and involvement on MACP committees, boards or related bodies; sponsorship or stewardship of significant grant programs or legislation important to law enforcement; and significant training accomplishments or other widely recognized criminal justice endeavors or accomplishments.
“Chief Olko has selflessly served the city of Auburn Hills for the past 17 years,” said Pete Auger, city manager of Auburn Hills. “The city is pleased to see her innovative approaches to emergency services, community policing, traffic safety and homeland security recognized at the state level. We are grateful for her stewardship and look forward to Chief Olko continuing to serve the Auburn Hills community.”
Chief Olko joined the Auburn Hills police force in 1994 as Deputy Police Chief and was appointed Chief of Police in 1996.She is the longest serving woman police chief in the state of Michigan. In 2012, Chief Olko accepted additional duties as Director of the city’s Emergency Services Department, which combined the city’s police and fire departments. Chief Olko’s law enforcement career began in 1973 at the Ingham County Sheriff Department. In 1977, she joined the Meridian Township Police Department, ultimately achieving the position of Commander of Staff Services before leaving to come to Auburn Hills.
In addition to her service on various forces, Chief Olko is also active with MACP, which she joined in 1992 prior to being appointed as chief. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and has also served on the
legislative committee (1993-1998), private security liaison committee (1996-1998), the board of directors for district two (2003-2006), chairperson for the traffic safety committee (2004-2008), representative to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Driver Education Reform Committee (2005), and representative to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (2006).
Beyond her role at Auburn Hills, Chief Olko is active in civic and professional organizations. She is a member of the Auburn Hills Morning Optimist Club and served as president from 2002-2003; is past president of the Michigan State University Criminal Justice Alumni Association; past president of the Oakland County Chiefs of Police Association (1998-1999); past president of the Southeastern Chiefs of Police Association (2003); member of the American Society for Industrial Security; lifetime member of the Central Michigan Crime Prevention Association; and a committee chair and co-chair for the Oakland County Chiefs of Police on county-wide projects.
Chief Olko holds a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University, a Master’s Degree of liberal studies and technology from Eastern Michigan University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.
About Auburn Hills
Celebrating 30 years in 2013 as a city committed to innovation and growth, Auburn Hills is home to more than 21,000 residents and also serves as Michigan’s global business address, with 40 international corporations from 32 countries housed here, including Chrysler Group LLC and Borg Warner headquarters. Auburn Hills’ residents enjoy the amenities of city and suburban living with parks, a revitalized downtown district and a welcoming city complex with a library and community center. Additionally, the city has five colleges and universities, the award winning Palace of Auburn Hills entertainment complex and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, one of the state’s largest destination shopping centers, providing a variety of cultural, social and educational opportunities to residents, workers and visitors. Learn more at www.auburnhills.org.
