Dearborn's chief of police, Timothy Strutz, said that a 20-year-old ordinance officer has been suspended pending the results of an investigation into the crash Monday that took the life of William Vesper Owen IV, 35, of Canton Township.

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Residents React To Police Crash

"The Dearborn Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation of this very serious incident, in conjunction with the Michigan State Police," Strutz said.

The officer was heading to assist police chasing a stolen car when he collided with a white 2002 Volkswagen at Rotunda and Military streets around 4:50 p.m., Local 4 reported. The Volkswagen was entering the intersection form the Ford Motor Co. Truck Development lot when it was struck by the marked patrol car, according to police.

Owen was transported to Oakwood Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:45 p.m., police said.

Witnesses said the officer had overhead emergency lights activated while he proceeded through a red light about one-half mile west of Pelham Street, police said. Witnesses told Local 4 that the officer was driving at a high rate of speed.

The officer was transported to Oakwood Hospital to be treated for head injuries. He was released Tuesday morning.

The accident investigation is expected to be completed within two weeks, according to police.

Additional Information:

The following is a description of the duties of the Dearborn Police Department Ordinance Enforcement Division:

A special unit of the Police Department, the ordinance officers maintain Motor Carrier Enforcement, Ordinance Enforcement and Parking Enforcement.

Motor Carrier Enforcement
Ordinance officers are assigned exclusively to ensure commercial vehicles obey motor carrier regulations. They check commercial vehicles for size, weight, equipment, cargo securement and driver qualification. They are also responsible for inspection of vehicles for hire.


Ordinance Enforcement
The officers inspect for accuracy all commercial measuring devices to ensure their accuracy and business licenses. They also patrol the city streets looking for stray animals and removing injured and deceased animals.


Parking Enforcement
These officers are solely responsible for any parking related violation. They patrol city streets and parking lots looking for parking violators.


Abandoned Vehicle Enforcement
Officers tag and remove junked and abandoned vehicles from city streets, alleys and parking lots.


Animal Shelter
The Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter (FFDAS) have the responsibility for the direct care, feeding and placement of animals. All stray animals from Dearborn are taken to the animal shelter and can be adopted be any Dearborn resident for a nominal fee.