Police Chief Mark Wilk, ready to step into his patrol car outside City Hall. A familiar face in the community, Mr. Wilk said he personally knows most of the people he encounters on the job. Whether it's retraining officers, launching a bicycle licensing program to deter theft, or teaching business owners how to prevent fraud, as the new police chief, Mark Wilk says his philosophy is centered around education.

“Our job is enforcement here, but it's also education,” said Mr. Wilk, who also works as a paramedic for Allied EMS ambulance service. “If anything, the public's going to see how I want to educate the community.”

Mr. Wilk, who was appointed Chief of Police in February after Tim Matelski retired, has already begun working on new community programs. The focus is on targeting problems at their source, he said.

For example, many residents have called the police department for emergencies after hours, so he's started airing an informational segment on St Ignace's local TV station concerning when citizens should call 9-1-1. In addition, because of the high number of stolen bikes each year in the city, he is considering introducing a bicycle licensing program similar to the one on Mackinac Island.

Lori Strich Plans are also being made to re-educate the department's staff on several fronts, said Mr. Wilk, who presided over his first department meeting February 15. Officer Allen Mitchell, for example, will be attending an evidence technology course in April, which will qualify him for crime scene investigation work.

“We currently rely on the state for that,” he said. “They have a limited budget and resources, and it often takes them a while to be on location.”

The department is also planning to send officers to a Grayling training program in September, called “Tactical Enforcement for Patrol Officers,” that simulates training scenarios using paintball guns.

Merlin Doran With four officers on staff in addition to the chief, the department is now in the process of hiring another full-time officer to fill the internal vacancy created by Mr. Matelski's departure. The hiring decision is expected to be made in April, Mr. Wilk said, when a new sergeant, who will be selected from among the staff, will also be announced. The department already has received 112 applicants for the officer position.

“I'd like to have two officers on a shift,” he said, “and, preferably, as much as possible at night. We need the extra person for coverage.”

Collaborating with other police agencies is also a top priority for Mr. Wilk, as the city police department works with the Michigan State Police, Mackinac Island Police, Mackinac County Sheriff's Office, Sault Tribe Law Enforcement, and other agencies.

Tom Tarnutzer “We're trying to work together and share resources as much as possible,” he said.

He was born and grew up in St. Ignace and, after acquiring a degree in electrical engineering at Michigan Technological University, Mr. Wilk decided he wanted to go into law enforcement and enrolled in the police academy at Delta College. Following his graduation in December, 1987, he joined the St. Ignace Police Department as an officer.

In 2002, Mr. Wilk was promoted to sergeant, second in command to the chief.

“I worked directly with the chief and was able to see how things were done firsthand,” he said.

Even though he sometimes tells youth, “If you know me, that's probably not a good thing,” Mr. Wilk says he actually knows just about everyone in the community. During his free time, he enjoys installing electrical equipment on patrol cars and ambulances.

Richard Cullen He resides in St. Ignace with his wife, Shonda, and has one son, Michael.

Like his predecessor, he has an open-door office policy and always welcomes feedback from citizens.

“Based on my experience with Tim [Matelski], if somebody came in with a problem, he'd have an open door policy, and I'm doing the same thing,” he said. “I want to hear what people have to say.”

Meet Secretary Lori Strich

After operating a print shop in Alpena for several years, secretary Lori Strich joined the police department in 2000. She's a selfdescribed “people person” and guests strolling into the police department are invariably greeted by her welcoming smile.

Ms. Strich is responsible for all of the department's paperwork, including arrest cards and Michigan Incident Crime Reports, which are sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in East Lansing. Additionally, she's responsible for writing grant applications, something the department is putting an emphasis on this year. She will be attending a one-day grant-writing seminar in May, and also hopes to attend grant writing school to learn how to apply for federal grants.

Allen Mitchell “Funding for new vehicles and computer software with searchengine capabilities is needed,” she said.

Ms. Strich said she expects the police department to be well organized under Mr. Wilk. “We've updated and improved a lot of things already,” she said.

Meet Officer Merlin Doran Originally from Waterford in Oakland County, Merlin Doran's love of the U.P. was sparked during camping trips as a youngster. So when he finished high school, his natural choice was Lake Superior State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in conservation law enforcement.

After launching his police career as an officer in Oakland County and Mackinac Island for three years, Mr. Doran joined St. Ignace's department in 1995, a time when he and Mr. Wilk worked together as patrol officers.

“When you first start, there's always a gap between the old and new officers,” he said, “and because Mark and I were trained with the same types of philosophies, we got along well.”

Today, the police department's workplace culture has distinctly changed under Mr. Wilk's leadership, said Mr. Doran, who lives in St. Ignace with his wife, Shannon, and their son, Ben, and daughter, Sarah. All of the officers have been challenged to develop new skills in their areas of expertise, he said.

“When we had our first meeting, Mark basically said that, as the new chief, he is taking ownership of this department, and that he wants everyone here to also take ownership as much as possible,” he said.

Meet Officer Tom Tarnutzer

Another long-timer at the department, Tom Tarnutzer, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, started his career at the Sault Tribe Federal Academy and worked for the Sault Tribe Police before joining the St. Ignace force in 1987.

Describing himself as the “public relations” specialist of the department, Mr. Tarnutzer, who insists on being called Tom, has always had a flair for interacting with St. Ignace residents.

“When I retire, I want to be known as the police officer you called Tom, a person who is remembered for serving and helping the community,” he said.

Two Jack Russell terriers, Zoey and Jazz, keep Mr. Tarnutzer's hands full while away from work. Married to his wife, Diane, for 32 years, he has two sons, Adam and Aaron, and two daughters, Mindy and Traci.

Meet Officer Richard Cullen

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Richard Cullen's path to becoming a police officer began in the U.S. Coast Guard. After being stationed on the Biscayne Bay in St. Ignace and Cape May, New Jersey, Mr. Cullen joined the Sault Tribe Police force as an officer in 1997, working there for seven years before joining the St. Ignace force two years ago.

Mr. Cullen met his wife, Mary, in St. Ignace while serving in the Coast Guard. They have a fouryear old daughter, Liberty, and two-year-old identical twins, Cadence and Addison.

Passionate about being a positive role model for adolescents in the area, Mr. Cullen coaches youth wrestling, softball, and football at St. Ignace. He sees himself as a mentor for youth in the community.

“I'm very approachable with kids,” he said. “It's a good opportunity for me to intervene in their lives.”

A workout enthusiast, while not at work Mr. Cullen is usually weightlifting at the gym or taking care of his children. He also enjoys all competitive sports.

Meet Officer Allen Mitchell

After earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Lake Superior State University, officer Allen Mitchell worked for the Mackinac County police department for two years before joining the St. Ignace police force in 2006, returning to his hometown where he lives with his wife, Julie.

The “bounce around guy” at the department who works both day and night shifts, Mr. Mitchell said he's “always been interested in forensics” and is eager to attend evidence training school in April.

“I'll be able to process anything from a crime scene,” he said.

He added that the “whole department is excited about the future.”

“I think it's great,” he said of Mr. Wilk's plans for the department. “He's making some big improvements, technology-wise, which will be great for new visitors. The whole department is excited about the future.”