MSP Bomb Squad officer a Rockford resident
Lt. Col. Gary Gorski, Sgt. Joseph Roney and Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue.
At a special ceremony held in Lansing last week, Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue presented Rockford resident
Sgt. Joseph Roney, a member of the Bomb Squad, with the MSP Meritorious Award for placing his life in danger to protect others.
In April, after returning from a call, Sergeant Roney saw smoke and flames coming from his vehicle, caused by an electrical failure, as he parked it in the garage.
As a result of the earlier call, the truck was now transporting high explosives. Recognizing this danger, Sergeant Roney backed the burning truck outside of the garage. After several unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the fire, he contacted the local fire department. Before firefighters arrived, he made several trips into the burning and smoke-filled truck to remove the explosives it held.
In awarding Sergeant Roney with the MSP Meritorious Award, the department recognizes that because of his quick actions and decision to enter the burning vehicle transporting the explosives, he was able to protect not only the property, but also the lives of the nearby employees.
Sergeant Roney enlisted with the department in 1994, graduating as a member of the 110th Trooper Recruit School. He served at the Ionia Post before being assigned to the Bomb Squad.
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