June 7, 2006

East Lansing -  For his commitment to enhancing the lives of youth in urban communities, Sergeant Bennie F. Bowers Jr. of the Paw Paw Post was presented with the Michigan State Police (MSP) Director’s Commendation today by Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant.

Sturdivant bestowed the honor on Bowers for his efforts to improve the lives of teens through the development of several after-school and alternative education programs for young men and women in

Additionally, Bowers is the creative force behind the Michigan Youth Leadership Academy, a week-long residential program that gives young men the opportunity to learn leadership and decision making-skills, as well as build positive relationships with law enforcement officers and community members.  The goal of the academy is to change the young men’s lives by changing their attitude about police and community.

Following the success of two academies in Benton Harbor, the program was expanded this year to include the communities of Kalamazoo and Saginaw.

Bowers joined the department in 1987, and graduated as a member of the 101^st Trooper Recruit School.  After graduation, he was assigned to the Battle Creek Post.  In 1997, he was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the Paw Paw Post.

A native of Benton Harbor, Bowers currently lives in Kalamazoo with his wife, Velois, and two children Johnathan and Joi.  He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.

The Director’s Commendation is presented at the sole discretion of the Director of the MSP.