The News Room [News Release]

Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Monday, May 3, 2004

Sheriff Warren Evans Awarded Madonna University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award

Wayne County Sheriff Warren C. Evans on Saturday was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Madonna University for his outstanding contributions to the community in his chosen profession. The award was presented at Madonna’s 57th Commencement Exercises.

A 1976 graduate of Madonna University in criminal justice, Sheriff Warren Evans has worked in every area of law enforcement and community justice in Wayne County during his 34-year career. He began as a deputy in the Wayne County Sheriff’s department at age 21 and quickly moved up the ranks. His assignments have ranged from road patrol duty to jail administration, crime lab and identification, internal affairs, narcotics, marine patrol and the mounted division. By the time he was 38, he had been named Undersheriff, the second highest rank in the department.

In addition to completing his bachelor’s degree, Sheriff Evans went on to become a licensed attorney, earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and graduated from the FBI Academy. Professionally, Evans also has served as director of Wayne County’s Department of Community Justice and as Chief of Special Operations at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition from such an outstanding university,” said Evans. “Madonna provided me with the tools needed in order to succeed in the career I love and have been blessed with a wonderful career as a result.”

Since becoming Sheriff in January 2003, Evans has worked to collaborate with area law enforcement agencies to reduce crime in Wayne County. Of particular note, Sheriff Evans established a new unit dedicated to tracking down and arresting the more than 7,000 drunken drivers in Wayne County who have either failed to show for court or have violated their probation. The Fugitive Apprehension Service Team [FAST], which Evans co-created with the Detroit Police, Taylor and Livonia, has arrested more than 3,600 felony fugitives in the past 16 months. Evans also created a new unit dedicated to the task of finding and safely recovering missing and exploited children.

As Wayne County Sheriff, Evans now oversees the second largest law-enforcement agency in Michigan with a staff of 1,500, three jails that house more than 2,600 inmates and a $120 million budget.

When addressing members of the Criminal Justice Association at Madonna University as “future leaders in the agencies,” Sheriff Evans gave this advice: “In police work, you have to have a vision, even if that means thinking outside of the box. What is your goal? Think in terms of the end result. You have to work smart and work collaboratively as a team to make communities safer.”

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