Deputy Michael Hecko of Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department received the Excellence in Service Award presented by Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) to recognize his work in promoting domestic violence victim safety and offender accountability. Pictured (from left) are Amber Libby, Cheboygan County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; Melissa Goodrich, Cheboygan County Prosecuting Attorney; Michael Hecko; Amber Whitmore-Michel, WRCNM Counselor/Advocate; Celeste Charboneau, Victims’ Rights Advocate with the Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office; and Dale Clarmont, Cheboygan County Sheriff.

Deputy Michael Hecko of Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department earned an Excellence in Service Award for his work responding to and investigating domestic abuse cases. Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan recognizes law enforcement officers with the annual award in the five counties they serve as part of October’s National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.

Hecko said it is an honor to receive the award. “I am grateful that I was able to return to Cheboygan County and serve the community that I was raised in. I encourage any person suffering with domestic abuse to call into 911 so we can help,” said Hecko.

Cheboygan County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Goodrich said Hecko’s work is a prime example of the county’s excellent law enforcement. She explained that his compassion, strong work ethic and thorough investigations make him a worthy recipient of this award.

“Deputy Hecko is there to protect those who cannot protect themselves. He listens and treats victims with the utmost respect leaving them with the dignity they deserve under difficult and personal circumstances,” Goodrich said. “It is an honor to work with him to achieve justice for those who have been victimized.”

Assistant Prosecutor Amber Libby said she is honored and privileged to work with Hecko.  “I’ve worked with him directly on domestic violence cases and his motivation, skill, knowledge and attention are always attuned to the same purpose for this community’s most vulnerable members; to protect and serve them to the best of his ability,” Libby said.

Cheboygan County Sheriff Dale Clarmont was also supportive of Hecko’s recognition, describing him as professional and proficient in his work.

Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan Counselor/Advocate Amber Whitmore-Michel said Hecko is deserving of the award because he shows real concern and compassion to survivors of domestic abuse. “Domestic abuse calls rely on law enforcement to quickly assess difficult and nuanced situations while trying to find safety for the victims. Deputy Hecko has excelled in these cases and provided survivors with the validation that domestic abuse is never okay,” Whitmore-Michel said.

Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan counselor/advocates select Excellence in Service award recipients from Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties who have demonstrated a strong knowledge and understanding of responding to, investigating and supporting survivors of domestic violence. Other honorees for the 2019 Excellence in service award are: Deputy Jennifer Seeley, Antrim County Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Jeremy McAuliff, Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office; Lieutenant Mike Parker, Petoskey Department of Public Safety; and Trooper James Leonard of the Michigan State Police post in Gaylord.