Eastpointe

Lauretti retires after three decades of service to hometown

By Sara Kandel
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Police Chief Mike Lauretti is retiring at the end of July. Police Chief Mike Lauretti is retiring at the end of July. Lauretti — pictured here when he first got promoted to traffic officer in 1982 — served the city of Eastpointe for 32 years before retiring. 0 In stark contrast to the ride he got his start in, Lauretti, left, debuted newly designed squad cars, above, earlier this year. 1

EASTPOINTE — Mike Lauretti graduated from high school in the small east-side community where he would end up spending the span of career his as a police officer and chief of police.

But it was only by chance that Lauretti, who will retire from his role as department head at the end of this month, was able to make a living in same city where he was born and raised.

The Eastpointe native always knew he wanted to be a police officer, so at 19 when he saw an opportunity to begin his career in the field, he jumped at the chance.

It was an easy decision for him, but it might not have been for others in a similar situation.

“I had to take a hefty pay cut to do it,” Lauretti said. “At the time, I was working at the GM Cadillac stamping plant, and I found out the city received a grant to hire into the Police Department — and I always wanted to go into police work, so I figured this was my way in.”

Lauretti, two years too young to become an actual police officer, was hired as a civilian police aide. He helped at the desk and with various odd tasks for two years while attending the Macomb Police Academy.

Then, in 1982, his dream took off.

For the next seven years, he would work the midnight shift as an evidence technician before finally getting switched to the day shift, then being promoted to corporal in 1991. More promotions followed: sergeant in 1996, lieutenant in 1997, deputy chief a few months later in 1997, and finally, police chief in 2004.

“I’ve worked in almost every single department here, and understanding everyone’s roles here has helped me become a better chief,” he said. “But I’ve always had a vision for the department, and I’ve stuck by that vision.”

He dubbed his vision P.R.I.D.E.

“P stands for professionalism. R for respect — to always conduct ourselves in a manner that will earn the respect and to give the community the respect they deserve, understanding that we ultimately serve them. I stands for integrity — a dedication to honest, loyal and truthful behavior and a belief in the basic human rights of all people to be treated equally with dignity, courtesy and respect. D stands for decency — striving to do the right thing at the right time for the right reason. And E stands for excellence — the level of service we must always strive to bring to the community.”

His vision has been so popular among professionals in the field that it’s been picked up by other local departments, schools and even university professors as a teaching model.

His experience in various roles in the department led him to manage in a style that utilizes each individual’s skills.

“Some guys might be really good at sharp shooting, so they are in charge of training in that area; others with investigation, so they are in charge of that. This way, we can all bring a unique talent to the department.”

The most outstanding of Lauretti’s talents could be debated, as there seems to be no shortage of them. Some would say it’s his ability to work with the public and talk to anyone that stands out.

“If I can be half the personable person he is and have the ability to talk to people the way he does, then I will be proud,” said Deputy Chief Scott Bourgeois, who will be appointed acting chief following Lauretti’s retirement on July 31.

Others say it’s his energy and devotion.

“Mike has been high energy and positive since my arrival in Eastpointe,” said City Manager Steve Duchane. “He has been a part of the community in every way — not just as its police chief — and in my nine months, he’s been a key part of the administrative team going beyond the Police Department and assisting in many ways.”

The one thing everyone can agree on is Lauretti’s passion for technology.

“His focus on technology and the future make him stand out, but I still believe his drive is most notable,” Duchane said.

“He’s the guy to go to for technology,” Bourgeois said. “If we have an issue, we can just go to the chief now, and he’ll say, ‘Try this and this and this,’ and it will get it done. Technology-wise — getting the word out to different people through Crimedar, Facebook, email — he’s been just great. We are going to carry on with all those things he initiated.”

Despite his undying efforts to always bring newer technology to the department, Lauretti never forgot about the taxpayers and eagerly pursued grants and other means to supply the department with new technologies without having to go to the voters to foot the bill.

“I would just hope that everyone remembers that I always tried to do the best job I could here,” Lauretti said. “Whether it be by trying to bring technology to the department through grants that save the taxpayers money or by using drug forfeiture funds, I always have tried to do my best for the community and for the department.”

As for retirement, Lauretti says he’s excited to have more time to spend with his wife, Donna, and children, Michael and Ashley, but he’ll miss coming to work every day in this city he still considers home.

“Eastpointe is my home, whether I hang my hat here or not. I grew up in Eastpointe. I graduated from the high school. My mom still lives in the house I grew up in,” said Lauretti, who lives with his family in nearby Clinton Township. “My brother still has a house here. My sister-in-law still lives here. The city of Eastpointe is my home. This city has been an outstanding opportunity for me and given me a wonderful career and a great life.”
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Sara Kandel at skandel@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1030.