Officer Joe Hogan shares “I am focused on providing the best service I can to the Columbia Township residents and our visitors and keeping myself and teammates safe while doing so.”
By John Hummer
Editor
Columbia Township has a new full-time police officer on board who brings with him a wealth of experience that will surely enhance Chief Jay Niles’ police force. Meet Officer Joe Hogan.
Hogan, who grew up in Allendale (Grand Rapids suburb) and graduated from Allendale High School in 2004, comes to Columbia Township from a second stint with the Sumpter Township Police Department in Belleville.
Hogan says he enjoys the daily interactions with people he meets from within the community, as well as outside of it. “I also enjoy working outside of a building or office environment, along with the element of the ‘unknown,’” he noted. “It also goes without saying that it gives me great satisfaction when I know I’ve truly helped someone, or improved their day, no matter how big or small it may be.” (more below)
One of Hogan’s most memorable calls happened about a year ago when he assisted an older gentleman in locating his wife who had bad dementia. The man’s wife had walked away from their home, and it was winter, so the conditions outside were not great for wandering around. Add to that it was the midnight shift Hogan was working and around 3 a.m. when he received the call.
“I located her, and reunited her with her husband at home,” he said. “Because of her dementia, she did not want to stay inside the house, as she didn’t recognize her husband. I remained with her and the family for some time and was finally able to get her to come around and begin to recognize people, and she agreed to stay at the home. She and the family were very appreciative, and it made me feel good that I was able to find her safe, get her home, and know that she felt comfortable before I left.” (more below)
Hogan attended Grand Rapids Community College where he studied criminal justice and went through the police academy, graduating from GRCC in 2006. Since then, he has worked for the Highland Park Police Department, Sumpter Township Police Department, and Ypsilanti Police Department in part-time roles. He then became a full-time officer in Ypsilanti before moving on to a long full-time job with the Eastern Michigan University Police Department from 2009-2018. While there, he also served with the Washtenaw Metro SWAT Team and the Washtenaw County Street Crimes and Drug Team. He then moved on to his second stint with Sumpter Township as a full-time officer from 2018-2021 before recently joining the Columbia Township Police Department.
“Right now, I am focused on providing the best service I can to the Columbia Township residents and our visitors, and keeping myself and teammates safe while doing so,” Hogan stated.
When he is not patrolling the streets of Columbia Township, Hogan enjoys golfing, the stock market, and “watching the Detroit Lions rebuild year after year.” It takes a patient guy to do the latter.
Hogan is married to his wife of 13 years and currently lives in Summit Township with their three children, ages 13, 11, and 5.