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VOlume 29, number 1 • winter 2019
4 POLC Of cers honor
— By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
three Jackson Police Of cers and one Holland Public Safety Of cer were hon- ored for bravery and dedication to their profession for putting their lives at risk while stopping gunmen from killing others. The four of cers were presented Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) Outstanding Service Awards Sept. 21, 2018 during the Police Of cers Labor Council/General Employees Labor Council (POLC/ GELC) Conference at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. They were among a group of POLC Of cers nominated for the annual awards by their peers.
HOLLAND PuBLiC SAFEtY OFFiCER JOSEPH SLENK
On April 22, 2018, Holland Public Safety Of cer Joseph Slenk’s quick action saved the life of Olive Township resident Mary Hartman. Of cer Slenk fatally shot Matthew James Hartman, 27, after he exited the couple’s home holding a gun to his estranged wife’s head and refused orders by police to drop it.
Mr. Hartman had shot two other people, killing one of them, after taking his wife hostage and driving her to Muskegon earlier that morning. Mary Hartman texted her mother after witnessing the shooting of Jordan Carey, 29, an acquaintance of Mary’s, and a 25-year-old woman inside a Muskegon home. Carey died of his injuries.
Mary’s mother called police around 7:30 a.m. while Hartman drove his wife back to their Olive Estates mobile home. Ottawa County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to 8987 Brickersville Dr. as Mary texted updates to police begging for help and saying her husband was going to kill her next. She texted there was a bullet in the chamber, the safety was off, and her husband intended “suicide by cop.” Mr. Hartman exited and re-entered the home twice, ignoring of cers’ commands to drop the weapon.
Holland Public Safety Department, a POLC-represented unit, dispatched an armored vehicle occupied by Of cers Slenk and Jon Osborn to assist. Around 9 a.m., Matthew Hartman exited the home, holding a 9mm loaded handgun to Mary’s head. Of cers yelled for him to drop his weapon while Mary frantically screamed for him to do the same. Of cer Slenk emerged from the hatch of the armored vehicle and red a single ri e shot, striking Matthew Hartman and eliminated the threat. Mary was not injured.
“My conclusion is that Of cer Joseph Slenk, who had been made aware of the desperate circumstances of the hostage, acted with legal justi cation. From the per- spective of Of cer Slenk, the life of Mary Hartman was in eminent danger, negotiations
POLC/GELC Executive Director Rob Figurski (right) honors Jackson Police Of cer Thomas Tinklepaugh with an Outstanding Service Award for his bravery during a domestic violence call involving an armed man. Tinklepaugh was shot in the leg by the suspect.
Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP©)
Send Address Changes to:
667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205, Troy, MI 48083.
(248) 524-3200 • FAX: (248) 524-2752 www.leepusa.com
L.E.E.P. Programs: (833) 451-1220
POLC membership: www.polc.org
ExECutivE COmmittEE
CHAiR: Steve mcinchak
Gibraltar Police Dept.
viCE CHAiR: Brian mcNair
Chester eld Township Police Dept.
Collin Birnie
Flint Police Dept.
Kyle Culbertson
Berrien County Sheriffs Dept.
mike DeKam
Grand Rapids Communications
Scott Eager
Battle Creek Police Dept.
Jennifer Flick
Jackson Police Dept.
Jeff Gormley
Bloom eld Hills Public Safety Dept.
John Huizdos
Bloom eld Township Police Dept.
DiRECtOR, Robert Figurski
Warren PD (Retired)
mEmBER SERviCES
Lloyd Whetstone
Postmaster: Please send returns and all other communications to the Law Enforcement Education Program Business Of ce: 667 E. Big Beaver Road, Suite 205, Troy, MI 48083.
Published by The Dale Corp., (248) 542-2400 Executive Editor, Gary Jablonski Production staff: Diané E. Bertoli, Jennifer Gomori