By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

Macomb Police Academy graduate Anes Cehic was honored with the Robert Figurski Award for his determination during the academy, successfully putting what he’d learned into practice. 

“Mr. Cehic is humble but is willing to step up and get the work done,” said Macomb Police Academy Director Michael Ciaramitaro. “He was a great example to others, displaying hard work and dedication to becoming a police officer.”

Photo courtesy of Macomb Police Academy POLC Director Jim Stachowski (left) presents the Robert Figurski Award to Macomb Police Academy graduate Anes Cehic.

The 21-year-old was chosen from 34 cadets in his graduating class May 10, 2024 to receive the $500 Robert Figurski Award. He graduated from Macomb Community College Police Academy with a 3.2 GPA.

The Robert Figurski Award, sponsored by the POLC, is awarded twice annually at the discretion of the police academy to graduating cadets. To qualify, cadets must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification test and meet MCOLES employment standards for certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.

“I was very happy about receiving the award. I instantly told my parents,” however, Cehic said, at first he was concerned when someone from the college called him. “I was surprised when I was called after receiving our test scores. I had just passed (the academy) and I was hoping there wasn’t a mess up in the system or anything. Instead, I learned, it was more good news.”

Cehic’s career decision was shaped by his parents’ experiences during wartime and his older brother’s friends, one of which is a Redford Police Officer. “My parents are from Bosnia,” he said. “My dad (Mirsad Cehic) was a soldier in the Bosnian War and my mother (Izeta Cehic) was in the warzone as a citizen. She just moved around to stay safe as best she could and kept up with minimum firearms requirements for each citizen. Their background in understanding firearms has helped me in the academy.”

He was torn between pursuing a degree in Forensics or Law Enforcement. “A lot of my brother’s friends took up the profession of law enforcement. A lot of what those friends were saying and suggesting (becoming a police officer) was something I could quickly achieve,” he said. “I wanted to be a police officer because it felt like a better path for me. You’re able to be an evidence technician as a police officer, so that’s exactly what I was looking for in the forensic field. I learned I could do so much more as a police officer.”

Cehic, who received his associate’s degree in Law Enforcement from Macomb Community College, was hired as a Southfield Police Officer, beginning May 24. “I’m already 20 and I have a job, so I’m very thankful,” he said. 

The lessons and skills he acquired in the academy solidified his choice, especially when cadets participated in simulated law enforcement situations. “Our Scenario Days were setup to see how we perform in common real life situations, such as domestic violence,” he said. “You have to take control of situations. If I know something is right, I have to lead by example. 

“It’s good to make sure everybody’s on the same page in certain scenarios,” Cehic said. “With more and more scenarios, I realized I really can see some things better and work to prevent things from escalating or help de-escalate things.”