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GRAND BLANC TWP., MI \u2013 After 26 years with the Grand Blanc Township Police Department \u2013 including six as the chief of police \u2013 Ron Wiles is retiring.<\/p>\n
His last day as chief will be Aug. 28, wrapping up with the conclusion of the Ally Challenge at the township\u2019s Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI owe a lot to Grand Blanc Township, and my whole professional career basically has been here at Grand Blanc Township,\u201d Wiles told MLive-The Flint Journal Thursday, July 21, in an interview at the police department. \u201cI love Grand Blanc Township. There\u2019s not a day that has gone by that I have not enjoyed coming to work. There\u2019s been challenges of course, but it\u2019s a great place to work, great department, great community support, great support from our elected officials.\u201d <\/p>\n
But Wiles, 50, will remain involved in law enforcement, although it will be in a citizen role. He will be taking over as the Deputy Director with the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I knew when it was time (to retire). I knew I would never probably be a chief at another agency just because of my commitment to Grand Blanc Township,\u201d Wiles said. \u201cBut, if an opportunity came up where I could still make a positive impact, especially in the law enforcement community, I would look at that. One of those positions became available.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was tough though,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt was one of those (decisions) you lose sleep over because of my love for Grand Blanc Township and this police department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiles was fortunate to have prior experience with the association. He was coming off two terms as president, and said he was able to get a really good look at what the association does and how it impacts not only law enforcement across that state, but also residents across Michigan as a whole.<\/p>\n
The association has made an impact across the state through advocacy and professional development components, Wiles said. Another way the association has made an impact is its accreditation program. <\/p>\n
Grand Blanc Township has one of the 48 accredited agencies across Michigan, meaning they are one of the departments voluntarily complying with 108 best practice standards in a program designed by the association.<\/p>\n
Wiles said the program is relatively new and that he\u2019s hoping to see it take off even more in the future among the roughly 600 police agencies in Michigan.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times when we talk about policy development and law enforcement and changes in policy that people want to see, accreditation already encompasses that,\u201d Wiles said. \u201cThey just don\u2019t give out the accreditation certificates. You got to earn them. It\u2019s a two-year process to get through it. So, I\u2019m really anxious and excited about the opportunity to work with other police agencies to help them through that process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Wiles has spent more than 25 years in law enforcement, that wasn\u2019t the original plan.<\/p>\n
He had attended Michigan State University, graduating with a degree in geological sciences. <\/p>\n
But when he was going through college and trying to decide what he wanted to do afterward, he realized he\u2019d need to go back for a master\u2019s degree to pursue a career in his field. <\/p>\n
That wasn\u2019t something Wiles said he was interested in doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I wanted to help (people). I mean, it sounds clich\u00e9, that\u2019s what cops say, I want to help people, but it\u2019s totally true,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I was in school, and I took a couple criminal justice classes, really enjoyed them. I put myself through the police academy, graduated the police academy, and then my first job was in Calhoun County at the sheriff\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a few months, Wiles came to Grand Blanc Township. <\/p>\n
Twenty-six years later, he\u2019s still here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really have held every rank in this department,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, when you talk about someone that\u2019s climbed the ladder, so to speak, I\u2019ve done that as a police officer, detective sergeant, lieutenant, captain, now the chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wiles is leaving big shoes to fill in Grand Blanc Township and may have some role in the process of hiring his replacement.<\/p>\n
The township is currently searching for a company to execute a search for Wiles\u2019 replacement. He said he believes that while he won\u2019t be actively involved in the hiring process, he may be asked for input.<\/p>\n
While his job duties will be changing, one thing that will remain the same is that Wiles and his wife will remain as residents in the Grand Blanc Township community. <\/p>\n
Wiles said that his family, which includes two children who attend Michigan State University, have made the area their home for the past six years and want to remain a part of the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a department that has outstanding community support, and it\u2019s because of the service that our men and women provide each and every day,\u201d Wiles said. \u201cThey do a tremendous job and I\u2019m terribly thankful for what they do. It\u2019s not always easy, but they do it every day and they\u2019re committed to providing a superior level of service. So, I\u2019m very thankful for the work they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more at <\/b>The Flint Journal<\/b><\/a>:<\/b><\/p>\n Lapeer business significantly damaged in fire<\/a><\/p>\n Shiawassee County Prosecutor\u2019s Office appeals Court of Appeals ruling in Owosso murder case<\/a><\/p>\n