Police, Fire departments honored for quick response after stabbing

ROSEVILLE — The Roseville City Council held a ceremony at its March 25 meeting honoring members of the Fire and Police departments

City council honors police, fire for quick response after stabbing

By: Nick Powers | Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider | Published March 30, 2025

The Roseville City Council held a ceremony at its March 25 meeting honoring members of the Fire and Police departments for their quick response to a stabbing.

Kevin St. Peter, emergency medical services program coordinator for Henry Ford Health, ran down what happened at the ceremony. St. Peter spoke at the ceremony in place of his wife, Jackie, who is the EMS coordinator for Henry Ford St. John Hospital. St. Peter said the Roseville Police and Fire departments were called to respond to a possible stabbing on Jan. 19. He said that the victim was found on a porch, bleeding profusely.

Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin said the Police Department had received first aid kits for its vehicles and officers were trained on using the kits last year. The officers used the kits to stop the bleeding. When the Fire Department arrived, firefighters provided a trauma assessment and continued to halt the bleeding before taking the victim to the hospital.

According to St. Peter, the victim had stab wounds on his neck, face, chest and abdomen. He was minimally responsive and going into shock. St. Peter praised the response time, which he said was 19 minutes from the call to the time the victim arrived at the trauma center.

Carrie Brown, Henry Ford trauma program manager at Henry Ford St. John Hospital, praised the speed of the responders.

“Because of the quick action and the care that our crew over here gave, it really made the difference and allowed our trauma team the opportunity to do what we needed to do to save his life,” Brown said.

The victim in the stabbing spent 12 days in the hospital following the incident, according to Brown.

“Any one of those injuries probably could have been life-ending for him,” St. Peter said.

From the Fire Department, Lt. Mark Hammell, firefighter/medic Carly Landry, firefighter/medic Adam Stuck and firefighter/medic David Borthwick II were recognized for their roles in the situation. Police officers Gawain Torres-Rivera and William Sanders were also recognized. All service members involved received a trauma challenge coin and a certificate of recognition.

Roseville Fire Chief Keith Jacobs commended those involved.

“This is an example of, in my opinion, how well the Roseville Fire Department and the Roseville Police Department have always worked,” Jacobs said.

At the close of the meeting, all council members thanked the responders.

“It was an extremely sad story that turned into a good story with a happy ending,” Roseville Mayor Robert Taylor said.

Following the ceremony, firefighter/medic Patrick Busch received his badge after completing his probationary period. His wife pinned the badge on him, and his children watched from the audience. Jacobs said Busch had no issues during his probationary period.

Library closed, to reopen in Erin Auditorium Roseville Public Library Director Jacalynn Harvey gave an update on building renovations at the March 25 meeting.

The library is scheduled to shut down March 31 and remain closed through April 5. When the library reopens April 7, it will resume operations temporarily in the Erin Auditorium, which is a facility within the Roseville Public Library located at 29777 Gratiot Ave.

“I think we can do it; librarians are planners,” Harvey said.

During the weeklong closure, patrons can make reference calls, place holds and order curbside carryout from the library. The phone lines will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. To reach the library, dial (586) 445-5407.

The library will stay in the auditorium until the renovations are complete. Harvey said this will take at least six months.