3 Policemen Promoted
3 Policemen Promoted
Ann Arbor Police Chief Walter E. Krasny has announced the promotions of a uniformed corporal to the rank of sergeant and two patrolmen to corporal.
The promotions of Donald L. Johnson, 29, Jan P. Suomala, 34, and John A. Hall, 27, are effective immediately, Chief Krasny said.
Johnson, moved up to uniformed sergeant from corporal, is a Wisconsin native but was reared and attended schools in Ironwood. He attended Northern Michigan University at Marquette for a year before entering the U.S. Army where he served as a military policeman. After discharge he entered Michigan State University and in 1963 received a bachelor of science degree in the School of Police Administration.
In his six years as a city officer Sgt. Johnson has served as a desk and radio car officer, and for a time was in charge of the Records Section at police headquarters. He also served on a special night-time investigation squad.
Cpl. Suomala is a native of Hartford, Conn., and attended Mt. St. Charles Academy Woonsocket, R.I. He moved to Ann Arbor with his family as a youth and was graduated from St. Thomas High School here. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957 and joined the Ann Arbor Police Department shortly after discharge.
His 13-year service has included assignment as a scout car officer, traffic patrolman, desk officer and detective. He recently was moved up to an “investigator” rank, working out of the Detective Division.
Three years ago Cpl. Suomala was one of three Ann Arbor officers cited for their part in the capture of a 17-year-old Ypsilanti youth who led police on a wild, high-speed chase through city streets. The teen-ager was driving a stolen car at the time.
Suomala is president of the Law Enforcement and Industrial Security Association of Washtenaw County and regional president of the National Police Officers Association.
Cpl. Hall, the eldest son of Sheriff’s Department Detective Joe E. Hall, is a five-year veteran of service in the U.S. Air Force. He joined the city force patrolman upon discharge three years ago. He has served scout car officer and has been assigned to the traffic warrant division working out of District Court.
Hall graduated from Willow Run High School in 1962, and subsequently attended both the University of Paris (France) and Washtenaw Community College.
Hall is married and has five children.