STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Officers with the Sterling Heights Police Department paid tribute Saturday to a high school graduate whose father was killed in the line of duty.
Lily Sawyers’ father, Mark Sawyers, was ambushed in a parking lot on 15 Mile Road when she was 11 months old. Her graduation was on the 17th anniversary of her father’s death.
Sterling Heights police chief Dale Dwojakowski said Lily is considering going into law enforcement at Ferris State University and that she’s already working to help families in similar situations.
Michigan House Bill 4426 aims to remove an income cap for the survivors tuition grant that pays tuition of children who lost a parent in the line of duty. It was sponsored by Rep. Matt Koleszar.
The bill passed unanimously out of the Michigan House of Representatives.
More: Macomb County news
Today, Lily Sawyers will graduate on the 17th anniversary of her father Mark Sawyers’ death. I was honored to see her off, and to speak with @Local4News about the importance of passing the Police Officer’s & Fire Fighter’s Survivors Tuition Grant. Watch at 11! pic.twitter.com/y3CODBkHIq
— Rep. Matt Koleszar (@koleszar_matt) June 5, 2021