Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan presented the Excellence in Service Award to Deputy Daniel Stacks of Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department for his work in responding to and investigating domestic abuse cases. Pictured (from left) are Paige Miller, Cheboygan County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; Melissa Goodrich, Cheboygan County Prosecuting Attorney; Amber Libby, Cheboygan County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; Amber Whitmore-Michel, Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan Advocate; Jaimee Vizina, Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Advocate; Stacks; and Dale Clarmont, Cheboygan County Sheriff.

Deputy Daniel Stacks of the 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 (WRCNM) recognizes law enforcement officers with this annual award in the five counties they serve as part of October’s National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Award recipients demonstrate a strong knowledge and understanding of the complexities of domestic violence.

Other honorees for the 2022 Excellence in service award included: Deputy Mark Hazen, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office; Undersheriff Kevin Hoch, Antrim County Sheriff’s Department; Assistant Police Chief Dan Mercer, Boyne City Police Department; and Trooper Joseph Duff, Michigan State Police Gaylord Post.

Stacks said the department’s operating procedure and policy for handling domestic abuse calls is deeply ingrained into each deputy through a field training program.

“A thorough investigation is not only required but expected from both the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office. Thorough investigations are what help victims of domestic abuse,” Stacks said.

Dale V. Clarmont, Cheboygan County Sheriff, also emphasized that domestic violence and abuse are taken very seriously by the department.

“My Deputies are educated, trained and given resources to assist victims of Domestic Violence. The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan provides those resources to not only assist law enforcement, but also the victims,” Clarmont said.

Melissa M. Goodrich, Cheboygan County Prosecuting Attorney, said Deputy Stacks deserves this recognition for many reasons. She recalled a recent domestic violence case Stacks was investigating where his work ethic and strong desire to do what was right helped.

“The abuser had convinced the victim that her mother was angry with her. Deputy Stacks is trauma-informed and recognizes this as a common tactic for abusers to isolate victims from their families and other support systems. Deputy Stacks went above and beyond the call of duty and took the time to speak with the victim, encouraged her to give her mom a call, and offered to stay with her to make the call. It resulted in a daughter and mother reuniting, and now a support person for the victim to assist her in healing through a difficult time,” Goodrich said.

Amber Whitmore-Michel, an Advocate with Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan’s Cheboygan office said she is glad to honor Deputy Stacks with the Excellence in Service Award this year.

“Our Cheboygan County deputies are trained very well in how to handle domestic abuse calls; however, compassion cannot be taught. That is what Deputy Stacks has demonstrated to the numerous victims of domestic abuse he has worked with over the years. We appreciate all he has done and will continue to do for survivors of domestic abuse,” Whitmore-Michel said.