“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.”

Solving the case: D/Sgt. Anthony Utt, Alpena Post.

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Detective Sergeant Anthony Utt, from the Alpena Post, was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for his relentless dedication and perseverance in solving a high-profile case involving the disappearance and homicides of two young women in Alpena County. The investigation, which began in August 2021 with the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl, later revealed a second victim, a witness to the first homicide.

D/Sergeant Utt’s investigation spanned hundreds of hours, involving extensive reporting and property documentation. In total, 85 interviews were conducted, and more than 70 search warrants were executed. In February 2024, the suspect was found guilty of two counts of first-degree premeditated homicide and three related felonies.

Unraveling the mystery: Ms. Elizabeth Wandrei, Intelligence Operations Division – Third District

Ms. Elizabeth Wandrei received the Meritorious Service Award for her outstanding professionalism, diligence, and perseverance during a complex homicide investigation in Lapeer County dating back to 2011. As a criminal intelligence analyst, Wandrei dedicated hundreds of hours to assist investigators in gathering intelligence on a suspect over several years, coordinating efforts with federal and out-of- state police agencies. Her work was pivotal in locating and arresting the suspect.

Heroes in action: Tprs Myles Redmond and Emily Spoeri, Flint Post and Sgt. Louis Velaga, Intelligence Operations Division

Troopers Myles Redmond and Emily Spoeri from the Flint Post, along with Sergeant Louis Velaga, previously from the Flint Post and now with the Intelligence Operations Division, were honored with Bravery and Lifesaving Awards for their heroic actions during a critical incident.

In October 2023, Redmond, Spoeri, and Velaga responded to a house fire with a child trapped inside a locked back bedroom. They repeatedly entered the burning, smoke-filled home, risking serious injury. Despite thickening smoke and diminishing visibility, they broke a bedroom window to clear the smoke and attempted to rescue the child. Firefighters eventually located the child and a second person, both unresponsive. The troopers performed CPR, reviving them, and both were transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition.