Dwyer Announces Donation to Family of Slain West Bloomfield Officer

The Farmington Hills Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has authorized the donation of $5,000 to the family of West Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick O'Rourke, who was killed in the line of duty early Monday morning. 

PBA president and former Farmington Hills Police Chief Bill Dwyer, who serves as Oakland County 14th District commissioner, announced the donation at Monday night's Farmington Hills city council meeting. The PBA was formed following the deaths of two Farmington Hills police officers and has grown to include the Farmington Hills Fire Dept., Farmington Public Safety and Franklin Police departments.

Dwyer attended the council meeting to talk about county activities and to accept a proclamation recognizing his 50 years of public service. 

He called the honor "bittersweet", in light of the day's tragic events. Shortly before the council meeting started, a day-long standoff with 50-year-old Ricky Coley, who was suspected of shooting O'Rourke, ended when Coley was found dead inside a West Bloomfield home. 

Dwyer told officials he had lunch that day with former West Bloomfield Township police chief Ronald Cronin, who retired in 2012. Cronin hired O'Rourke, who formerly worked for the Farmington Hills Police Dept., Mayor Barry Brickner said. 

"It's very difficult," Dwyer said. "People forget sometimes that police and firefighters are out there on the front lines 24/7 ... and that they're human and they have families."

The proclamation honored Dwyer's 23 years of service to the Detroit Police Dept., 23 years of service to the Farmington Hills Police Dept., more than two years as Warren Police Commissioner and nearly two years with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.