January 27, 2003

Lansing - Michigan State Police Director Colonel Stephen D. Madden announced today that Specialist Sergeant Dale Leroy Hardy of the Fire Marshal Division, Cadillac Sub-Unit is the recipient of the Dr. Carl A. Gerstacker Trooper of the Year Award.

The Gerstacker Award recognizes the trooper or sergeant who symbolizes outstanding professional ethics, dedication to duty and a concern for giving back to the community. In 1961, the late Dr. Carl Gerstacker, former chairman of Dow Chemical Company, and his wife, Esther, of Midland, created the award.

Hardy was chosen for continuously going beyond the normal call of duty both on the job and in his community. Before transferring to the Fire Marshal Division in 1992, Hardy worked in the Treasury Tax Fraud Unit and investigated a scrap metal fraud scam against General Motors Corporation in Warren, Mich. He continued to work on the case even after leaving the team, eventually leading to the arrest and conviction of four criminals.

As part of the Fire Marshal Division, Hardy is responsible for ongoing fire investigations. In addition to those duties, he also provides his knowledge to less experienced fire investigators. For the last 10 years, Hardy has been an active member of the Fire Marshal Division’s training programs and has been responsible for the coordination of many of these programs.

Additionally, Hardy has demonstrated his dedication to his community through a variety of fundraising events. He has been the director of the Jimmie Heuga Snow Express for Multiple Sclerosis for 11 years and participated in the event for 15 years. Hardy is also a member of the board of directors of Challenge Mountain Inc., which is a ski area for handicapped skiers in Boyne Falls.

Hardy also volunteers his time with the Great Lakes Burn Camp, the Golf for Multiple Sclerosis, the Michigan State Firemen’s Association Fireman’s Memorial Service and the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Hardy joined the department in 1979, after completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in criminal justice from Ferris State College. He was a graduate of the 96^th Trooper Recruit School. Hardy has served at the Cadillac, Caro and Gaylord posts and with the Criminal Investigation Division’s Gaylord Narcotics Team. He currently lives in Cadillac.

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