EAST LANSING. At a special ceremony today in Lansing, Michigan State Police (MSP) Director, Colonel Peter C. Munoz, presented First Lieutenant Robert Lesneski of the MSP East Tawas Post with the MSP Bravery Award. He is credited with risking his life to protect the lives of others.

On Nov. 20, 2007, Lesneski responded to an attempted suicide involving a woman inside her home with a loaded assault rifle. Upon entering the home, Lesneski made verbal contact with the woman and positioned himself in front of the bedroom closet where she was located.

Lesneski then convinced the woman to open the closet door, at which time he saw she had positioned the barrel of the rifle in her mouth and her finger on the trigger. After repeated attempts to persuade the woman to remove the rifle from her mouth, Lesneski created a diversion that allowed him to safely get the rifle away from the woman. The woman was eventually transported safely to a mental health facility.

Upon reviewing the circumstances of this incident, the MSP Board of Awards recognized that without Lesneski's quick, selfless actions, this volatile situation may have ended in tragedy.

Lesneski, a Tawas City native, enlisted in the department in 1984, and is a graduate of the 98th Trooper Recruit School. He has served at the Northville, Detroit, Alpena and West Branch Posts.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Sgt. Timothy Gronda or Sgt. Jay Samuels, East Tawas Post, (989) 362-3435