Don't be alarmed: Deputies to enable lights and sirens Friday morning in honor of Sgt. Steil
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (WJBK) - The Wayne County Sheriff's Office says deputies will be doing a special tribute Friday morning to honor fallen Detroit Police Department Sgt. Ken Steil.
Sheriff Benny Napoleon says the special tribute will happen at 11 a.m. All officers in equipped units will park and simultaneously enable their lights and sirens for 15 seconds in memory of Sgt. Steil.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office wants the public to be aware of the tribute so they are not unnecessarily alarmed when they see the lights and hear the sirens.
"Sergeant Steil was devoted to his brothers and sisters in blue. He gave tirelessly to the job and community. It is heartening to know that his dedication to law enforcement was so widely respected by those throughout the metro Detroit community. Losing him is a tremendous loss to us all," said Sheriff Napoleon.
Sgt. Steil died unexpectedly last weekend of a blood clot five days after being shot in the shoulder.
He was shot by a suspect he was pursuing. That suspect, Marquise Cromer, has been charged with first-degree murder.
At the time of receiving the injury, Sgt. Steil was expected to make a full recovery. He suffered the unexpected complication on the day he was expected to be released from the hospital.
Cromer has refused to leave his jail cell for his arraignment, and a not-guilty plea was entered Wednesday on his behalf.
Steil's funeral is scheduled to take place Friday morning at 11 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores. His visitation continues Thursday at Wujek-Calcaterra Funeral Home on Schoenherr Road in Sterling Heights from 2-9 p.m. A rosary is happening from 7-7:30 p.m.