By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

Oakland Police Academy graduate BreAna Steinbauer’s achievements and positive outlook made her the standout choice for the Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award.

“I think part of it was she exceeded every metric in the academy for physical fitness and academics,” said Oakland Police Academy Director David Ceci. “Her personality helped a lot too. You could throw some curve balls at her and her positive attitude was contagious. She had a smile most of the time.”
 

Photo courtesy of Oakland Police Academy POLC Deputy Director Jim Stachowski (left) and Dearborn Police Corporal Daniel Bartok (right) present Oakland Police Academy graduate BreAna Steinbauer with the Weiler Scholarship Award at the graduation ceremony.

The Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award is given twice yearly at the discretion of the college police academy to graduates who have not been sponsored by any police agency. To qualify for the $500 Award, cadets must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification test and meet MCOLES employment standards to become certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.

Steinbauer was chosen from among the 31 non-sponsored cadets who graduated in the class of 53 recruits June 2, 2022. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Forensics Investigations and Policing from Wayne State University.

Oakland Police Academy presented the 21-year-old with the Top Academic Award for receiving the best overall grade point average, 3.95 GPA, and the $500 Physical Excellence Scholarship.

A Police Cadet with Port Huron Police Department for two years, she was hired as a Port Huron Police Officer. “I was sworn in June 6, 2022, but I got the job offer in August 2021,” she said. “I was a Cadet from July 2020 up until the end of the police academy. I trained the new cadets on the weekends during the academy.”

Director Ceci was impressed Steinbauer wanted to focus her career on child crimes. “When someone has the passion for that, she really truly wants to help someone in society who doesn’t have the capacity to help themselves because they’re young,” Ceci said.

“I was originally interested in working in victim’s psychology,” Steinbauer said. “I wanted to help with women and children specific crimes. Sexual assaults, child abuse and being able to help those victims. I initially wanted to go into the psychology aspect, then realized I wanted to be a Police Officer. Right now, I want to help them during the criminal process and the investigations portion.”

Steinbauer was surprised and honored to receive the Richard R. Weiler Scholarship Award. “I haven’t received any scholarships in the past so it was really neat to be honored and have some organization contributing to my career and journey and have that support,” she said.