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The following press release was issued by the Michigan State Police:
MARQUETTE, MICH. The Marquette County Law Enforcement Administrator’s Association (MCLEAA) held a ceremony today at Northern Michigan University’s Berry Events Center to recognize Trooper Stacey Rasanen as Marquette County’s Officer of the Year.
Trooper Rasanen is a 24-year veteran with the Michigan State Police, having enlisted as a member of the 110th Trooper Recruit School in 1994. Upon graduation from recruit school, Trooper Rasanen was stationed at the Negaunee Post and has served the citizens of Marquette County ever since. Trooper Rasanen has served as a Community Service Trooper for the past eight years and has established excellent relationships with community members, business entities, and partner agencies in the criminal justice system. Earlier this year, Trooper Rasanen was recognized for her hard work by the Marquette County Community Foundation and received the coveted Catalyst Award in 2018. Trooper Rasanen was recognized for her commitment to Marquette County through philanthropy, volunteerism, and having a positive impact on the community over a long period of time. Her service has inspired others by example through tireless and unselfish efforts.
As the Community Service Trooper for the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post, Trooper Rasanen is tasked with implementing and administering public relations and community service programs throughout Marquette County. But for Trooper Rasanen, it is so much more. The care and concern she has for the people she serves in our community is unparalleled and is demonstrated in a host of ways that go well beyond the scope of her position and almost always goes uncredited.
Trooper Rasanen serves in collaboration with Marquette County schools, churches, nursing facilities, day cares, banks, businesses, fire departments, other law enforcement agencies, and many others and, most importantly, she connects with citizens from all walks of life in her efforts to serve and protect. She has helped to facilitate and participate in a wide variety of events in a diligent effort to reach out to the community. Some of these efforts include; the Citizens Academy which educates citizens about various aspects of law enforcement, post open houses to connect community members to services available to them, “Coffee with a Cop” sessions to allow citizens to talk with law enforcement personnel in a casual manner, providing car seat installations and inspections to ensure our youth safely travel, and working with National Night Out groups to host more than a dozen block parties and festivals to bring communities and neighbors together, spanning across many cities every August.
Trooper Rasanen has made connections in all of the schools in Marquette and Alger Counties. She has used the TEAM curriculum, taught the STEP Program, and has created presentations to address the needs of our children, including preparing children for weather related emergencies, awareness lessons on cyber bullying and sexting, and suicide prevention to name a few.
She has also reached out to area banks, credit unions, hospitals, churches, and public and private entities to make them more secure by presenting on topics including intruders, active shooters, lock down procedures, bomb threats, suspicious packages, suspicious individuals, meth and heroin awareness, human trafficking, and others.
Trooper Rasanen connects with senior citizens in our community by partnering with Triad, Cert, and RSVP by providing presentations on internet safety, avoiding scams, the benefits of File of Life, and the Life Tracker program to seniors as well as staff at senior citizen facilities.
Some of the groups that she has assisted include Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Marquette and Alger Counties, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Shop With A Cop program. She has been involved with the Michigan Youth Opportunity Initiative at Bay Cliff Health Camp for two summers. Trooper Rasanen works with the Women’s Center and Harbor House to educate women and children about domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Her commendable efforts are the result of consistent action, dedication, and being passionately invested in the community. It is with great pride that the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post announces Trooper Rasanen’s recognition as being named as Marquette County’s Officer of the Year, and humbly thanks all members of the MCLEAA board for selecting her for this prestigious award.
