Meet the Candidates: Candidate for City Council Bob Stites

From Jim Jacek
Every week we are featuring candidates running for city council. This week’s featured candidate is Bob Stites. Here is his story: I have been a resident of Allen Park since 1955, attended grade school at St. Mary Magdalen in Melvindale and graduated from Melvindale High School. I received my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Mercy College of Detroit while attending night school.
I spent the next three years and seven months serving our country in the United States Army, honorably discharged in September of 1970 and awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Good Conduct Medal. 
I was hired as a Police Officer in Allen Park in December of 1970 and assigned as a road patrol officer until injured on the job in 1985. No longer physically able to work on the road, I was given the position of Officer to the Chief of Police.
 I was the first Safety Town Officer, System Administrator for the Departments Computer System, Traffic Safety and Engineering, Emergency Management, and Executive Protection Officer (working in conjunction with the United States Secret Service, Michigan State Police Wayne County Sheriffs and Detroit Police agencies).
Additionally, I assisted the Chief of Police in the preparation of the Police Department’s annual budget and recommended the purchase of all equipment and supplies used by the police officers.
 I assisted in the research, development, implementation and training of officers in the 16 downriver communities on the in-car computer system and the 800mhz radio system.
I educated the citizens and trained the officers when the 9-1-1 system and File of Life program was implemented.
Our department’s computer system was the cutting-edge technology.  We served as a demonstration site for departments throughout the United States, saving the city thousands of dollars in software maintenance costs.  
I was a coach and administrator for 15 years with the Allen Park Athletic Club (APAC), Allen Park Festivities Commissioner for 7 years, (during this time we contributed over $200,000.00 to various city departments and programs),  Zoning Board of Appeals Commissioner for 2 years and Marketing Committee member for the Made in Michigan Festival including the Classic Car Show sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for 3 years.
I am an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion and Saint Francis Cabrini Parish.
 
 I have been endorsed by:
v   the Allen Park Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association
v   Allen Park Police Officers Association
v   Wayne County Police Lieutenants, Sergeants and Corporals Association
v   Allen Park High School Football Booster Club  
v   Allen Park Athletic Club (APAC).  
I have been married to my beautiful wife Melissa for 27 of the best years of my life. We have two adult children who attended and graduated from the Allen Park school system and we were blessed with our very first grandchild earlier this year (all of whom are Allen Park residents).
I served and protected the citizens of Allen Park for 35 years as police officer and I have continued to serve the citizens of our great city as a commissioner and volunteer.  If elected, I will strongly support our Police and Fire departments, as well as  maintain and improve city services. I will support our recreational programs and improve our parks, eliminate blight, and demand strict enforcement of our ordinances and codes. I want to encourage home ownership in order to stabilize our neighborhoods, balance the budget and always work to protect and maintain our neighborhoods where our families have always lived.
I will serve all citizens with honesty and integrity in the upmost professional manner.  I look forward to working with your Mayor and City Council members.  We are a team - each and every citizen - and together we will succeed.
LET ME BE YOUR VOICE!

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