Bouchard Lying about Service Awards?

Now that Michael Bouchard is the Republican nominee for US Senate, it looks like an opportune time to revisit this post questioning some of the awards on the sheriff's uniform. First published in April 2006, the Michigan Caucus couldn't explain the awards then and still can't explain some of the awards on Mike's uniform today...

Unearned awards on sheriff's uniform?

Copyright 2006 by the Mich­i­gan Caucus.

Ahhh, there's something about a uniform. No doubt about it.

Just look at Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard's snappy brown uniform. Yeah, its got every ac­ces­sory a top law en­force­ment of­fi­cer needs to look real, including (after the jump):

• Four gold five-pointed stars in each collar,
• Shoulder patches,
• A six-pointed gold star sheriff's badge,
• A gold aiguillette or maybe a fourragère (we can't pronounce it either, but its a braided rope or cord used for tying-up horses, yeah, horses) on the right solder,
• A gold pen,
• An Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Awareness/Prevention Purple Ribbon,
• A USA flag lapel pin (on the left shirt pocket flap),
• A clip-on tie (yeah, its a clip-on),
• A couple of winged medalions (one with a caduceus),
• A name badge(!),
• A gold tie clip, and
• A field of service awards on the right chest ...

Yeah, a field of service awards for all the special things the sheriff's done ...

Like this service award, our favorite (its on the left-handed side of the field, about midway down). A ribbon with a gold, five pointed star (for second and subsequent awards) in the center of a red-brown field and a gold border. Its also known as the "Special Deputy of the Year Award." Huh? Yeah, look again at the sheriff's uniform, there it is, the Special D e p u t y  of the Year Award. We don't get it; why would the sheriff wear a service award for deputies? Is Mike maybe his own "special" deputy?

Here's another of our favorites, the "Sheriff's Distinguished Unit Citation." Heck, it sounds really impressive - we never knew the sheriff had a distinguished unit. We didn't even know he even had a unit. We just thought of him as the "sheriff." But maybe our way of thinking is all wrong. Still, try as we might we can't figure out how the sheriff can give himself a Sheriff's Distinguished Unit Citation just like we can't figure out how he gave himself the Special Deputy of the Year Award.

For a guide to all the Oakland County Sheriff's service awards and decorations click here. Take a look, there's a few more service awards on Bouchard's uniform we just can't figure out - maybe you can. Seriously. Take a look.

So, the Michigan Caucus has got to ask, all levity aside, is the sheriff is trying to stack a few "extra" awards into the field to make himself look a bit more, ah, prestigious? Is this all part of Mike's Field of Dreams or his Field of Bullshit?

Comments

[The Real MI]

I would guess those would be medals he earned as a deputy before becoming Sheriff. When you get a promotion, you don't lose your previous medals. What makes you think he wasn't a part of a unit that was given the citation before he became Sheriff? His bio says 18 years in law enforcement, so he had plenty of time to earn awards.

[Michigan Caucus]

Don't guess ... Bouchard was never a deputy. Before he was sheriff he was a state senator and before that the police chief in Berkley.

By-the-way, your IP address, 69.89.97.66, shows a whois for "DeVos for Governor." Is Dick now riding shotgun for the sheriff? ACK! What dopes.

Search results for: 69.89.97.66

ACD Internet Services ACDNET-1 (NET-69-89-96-0-1)
69.89.96.0 - 69.89.111.255
Devos For Governor ACD-DEVOS-01 (NET-69-89-97-64-1)
69.89.97.64 - 69.89.97.71

# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2006-06-18 19:10

[The Disembodied Head of Dick Devos]

You're right, matt@therealmichigan.com must with the Devos campaign, or at least a staunch Republican (and really, these days, are there any other kind?)

I can tell he's a Republican because when I visited his web site, I saw there were a bunch of related blogs tracking back to it.

Those medals are impressive though. They will look good when Bouchard is reviewing the tanks on Raging Holy Elephant Day.

[John Doe, Professor of Police State Studies]

Fortunately, I happened to be googling for "people who need help identifying police medals" and am only too happy to help you out. Please be sure to view my new movie (link below)

The one at the top (2 circles, blue field) is the Cajones del Oro, given only rarely to an officer who displays love of self far exceeding normal.

The top left is of course the Equivalency Bar. They give that to anyone who can drink a six pack of PBR and burp the Oakland County theme song.

That baby in the top center is the Special Interest Citation. Its funnel shape is meant to evoke its bearer's ready hand in accepting donations from any and all parties.

Mike is proud to note that his Unit is Distinguished. He should know as he distinguished it himself with the presentation of this medal.

You noted that Mike gave himself the Special Deputy of the Year in recognition of his need to have as many medals as possible before running for higher office.

Mike is especially proud of his Special Event Bar. He has won it twice, much to the confusion of the entire department who are unsure what exactly it is in recognition of.

Then of course there are his six Meritorius Service Citations. These citations are mostly for sharp pencils and a minimum of eraser marks on important reports. They flank the Professional Excellence Citation, which is universally acknowledged among members of the force as "a total bullshit award they give to desk jockeys".

The Disaster Bar is awarded in anticipation of his performance if elected.

Mike is secretly ashamed of his Community Service Citation. He tried to avoid community service, claiming he was special and extra-meritorious but the judge wouldn't allow it.

While Mike is not a particularly good driver and is even lightheartedly referred to as "Pileup Mickey", he habitually pins a Safe Driving Award on the bottom right so the "medals even out".

[Frank Dreben]

Remember - Bouchard was a cop for many, many years and also has made great acheivements as a Sheriff.

[MichiganCaucus]

Huh? Like what?

[The_Obvious]

Take your own advice and quit guessing, you sound like an idiot because you're clueless about uniform regulations for police officers (of any rank). I'm no Bouchard fan but your lies and spin need exposing.
- The 6 point star is standard issue for every sworn officer, sheriff included.
- Rank above Sgt. is place on the collar and is standard practice (an eagle would suffice).
- Shoulder patches are standard issue for every sworn officer's uniform.
- An ink pen is necessary (duh).
- A tie is required for certain uniform combinations and a clip on is standard for safety issues. Sheriff or not, he's still a cop and can be choked with a real necktie.
- Do you have a problem with a US flag on a police officer's uniform? It's also permitted for every sworn officer per regs.
- A name BAR (badge) is required of every police officer in uniform per state law.
- A tie clip of the proper plating is required of all sworn officers per regs.
- Bouchard was a Bloomfield Twp patrol officer for many years and earned may service citations for merit with that agency. They can be worn per OCSD regs on the brown uniform.
- The "aiguillette" is totally inaccurate. It's called a WHISTLE CHAIN and retains a real whistle in the pocket for directing traffic. It's allowed to every officer per regs.
- The "caduceus" is standard issue for every member of the sheriff's SRT (swat) team. It's displayed in accordance with OCSD regs.
- He also has another set of gold wings that represents membership in the sheriff motor [cycle] unit, which he is.

Many career patrol deputy sheriffs have more citations and awards than Sheriff Bouchard and display them proudly, just as the sheriff does while they're at work.

All these awards and designations of rank are in compliance with all para-military uniform standards. The regs that allow this were in inacted by Sheriff John Nichols, the predecessor to Bouchard who was former military , not Bouchard.

[MichiganCaucus]

You don't get it, do you?

We received information from Berkley and Oakland County (FOIA's) concerning their service or award ribbons and NONE of the ribbons we had questions about on Bouchard's uniform could be attributed to his work in Berkley or Oakland County. NONE. We don't give a crap about the other stuff on his uniform, Mike, er, "Concerned_Citizen," it was a lead up to the real issue: improperly claiming several service or award ribbons.

Like you said, people who've EARNED a service or award ribbon deserve to wear them. Hell, Citizen, he's wearing a "Special Deputy of the Year" ribbon, what the fuck is THAT for?

BTW, the whisle chain does not have a "real whisle" attached - it just goes around his shoulder. Try blowing THAT.

[Patricia Ann Halling]

Jealousy and envy usuallt prompt serious scrurinization for any last ditch hope to never find there are those personas as Bouchard whom make our life's achievement seem like one long methamphetamine crisis.
Find your own niches to validate and raise your self-esteems people. Make something worthy of yourselves so we can all get green with envy scrutinizes what we wish we were like you more.

[Patricia Ann Halling]

Jealousy and envy insult prompt serious scrurinization for any last ditch hope to never find there are those personas as Bouchard whom make our life's achievement seem like one long methamphetamine crisis.
Find your own niches to validate and raise your self-esteems people. Make something worthy of yourselves so we can all get green with envy scrutinizing what we wish we were like, you more. Did you atleast aquire G.E.D's?

[Anonymous]

Its fun to scrutinize people though. Especially corrupt sheriffs and senators like Mike Bouchard who was let off on a D.U.I. and was supposedly one of the leading public figures against drunk driving in our communitiy. If that doesn't prove he's a total hypocrite, I don't know what would. You don't need an expensive education to scrutinize people. I was scrutinizing people way before I got my master's. Anyone can do it. I don't base my hapiness on my acheivements. That's something shallow people do. Yes, acheivements are nice, I have some, but I don't need to dispaly them for the media and the public to see to feel good about myself. That would make me a douche. Especially if I was just a total hypocrite anyways. I am not envious of being a hypocrite or in any way being involved with the police or government. There's nothing I would want to do less. All we can do is hope that the American people wake up and quit voting corrupt people like Mike Bouchard in to public office. Especially republicans.

[Anonymous]

Its fun to scrutinize people though. Especially corrupt sheriffs and senators like Mike Bouchard who was let off on a D.U.I. and was supposedly one of the leading public figures against drunk driving in our communitiy. If that doesn't prove he's a total hypocrite, I don't know what would. You don't need an expensive education to scrutinize people. I was scrutinizing people way before I got my master's. Anyone can do it. I don't base my hapiness on my acheivements. That's something shallow people do. Yes, acheivements are nice, I have some, but I don't need to dispaly them for the media and the public to see to feel good about myself. That would make me a douche. Especially if I was just a total hypocrite anyways. I am not envious of being a hypocrite or in any way being involved with the police or government. There's nothing I would want to do less. All we can do is hope that the American people wake up and quit voting corrupt people like Mike Bouchard in to public office. Especially republicans.

[Wronged]

From personal knowledge:

He has piggy backed the units that received the awards. If he happened to be awake and heard about the incident that served as the reason for the award, then he received the award. If someone had more stars then he, he had more added. This does not only apply to badges, if others had more arsenal then him, he made sure he had it added to his pile.

Don't get me wrong, he has done some good things but he has also used much for his own gain. He is a politician first and a law enforcement officer second.