Crime & Safety
Firefighters Honored for Saving Northville Township Officer's Life
Firefighters from Northville Township and Livonia were honored Thursday for their efforts in saving the life of a township police officer in 2009.
It took teamwork between two departments from two once feuding communities - and maybe a miracle - but Northville Township Police Officer Richard Babb is back on the job.
Babb, who required brain surgery after suffering life threatening injuries during a November 2009 police chase, returned to duty Aug. 23 after months of rehabilitation.
Last week, he thanked the firefighters, both from the township and neighboring Livonia, who saved his life.
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“It’s a reminder that whether we’re police or fire or wherever we come from, we work together,” Babb said.
“And I’m the living proof.”
Quick work on the part of firefighters from both departments turned a potentially tragic story into an inspiring one, according to township Public Safety Director John Werth.
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Werth credited Livonia firefighters with making the decision to initially transport Babb to Botsford Hospital in nearby Farmington Hills rather than opting for a lengthier transport to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
That move proved critical, he said.
“The ER doctor told me specifically that the actions of the Livonia Fire Department saved his life,” Werth noted.
Township officials honored firefighters from both departments during the last board of trustees meeting, while acknowledging the communities' onetime battle over an annexation attempt involving land not far from the crash site.
Northville Township fire personnel honored for their work in saving the officer included Lt. Brad Neuhart and firefighters Ryan Greenlee, Jason Hendrian, Ed Jankowski, Steve Leach, Rob McAllister and Finley Molina.
Livonia personnel honored Thursday, included Capt. Alan Harmon, Lt. Gary Scheske and medic Wade Clay and Brian Kukla.
Babb attended the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Amee.
The five-year department veteran had been involved in a brief stolen car chase when the crash occurred at 3:44 a.m. Nov. 23, 2009 at Six Mile and Haggerty roads. Babb spun his police cruiser around, attempting to block the intersection, when he was struck broadside by a cruiser driven by another officer participating in the chase, according to a 2009 WJBK-TV Fox 2 news report. The other officer suffered minor injuries.
All three suspects in the case were subsequently arrested and put in jail, Werth said.
Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo officially welcomed Babb back to the force on behalf of all township residents - and had a special message for those in the neighboring city.
“I just want to add - we love Livonia," Abbo said.
