WEST MICHIGAN - Each week, West Michigan's Most Wanted and Grand Rapids Harley Davidson recognizes a public servant that goes above and beyond the call of duty to help the community he or she is a part of.
This week's nominee from a FOX 17 viewer comes to us from Van Buren County.
Deputy Todd Oliver serves the Columbia Township region of Van Buren County and has for approximately 6 years.
FOX 17 spoke with John Huizenga, commander of the neighborhood watch in Van Buren County, a Columbia Township resident since 1978. Huizenga praised Deputy Oliver's commitment to the area he serves, saying Oliver never misses a neighborhood watch meeting or a township board meeting, making sure residents are up to speed on what's going on in their area, and addressing issues that may arise.
Huizenga and other constituents of the area credit Deputy Oliver for the "110%" he gives to the job he's sworn to do, going above and beyond to help the township that he serves, making himself readily available to residents in the area.
Deputy Oliver graduated from the police academy in June of 1997 from Kalamazoo Valley Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice, later joining the Mattawan Police Department.
A defining moment in Oliver's career happening in 2005 when his friend and partner on the force, Officer Scot Beyerstedt, was killing in the line of duty. The loss impacting Oliver deeply, served as the Escort Officer for Beyerstedt's family in Washington D.C. during National Police Week in May 2006.
Deputy Oliver joined the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department in 2007, now also serving on the department's Honor Guard as a Field Training Officer.
Deputy Oliver has been married for 18 years and has two children, and is also an avid outdoors-man with a passion for hunting and fishing. He's also a member of his church's softball team, and helps coach his son's little league team. During the winter, Deputy Oliver also makes time to plow snow for the elderly or others in need on his own time.
Congratulations to Deputy Oliver on being nominated as the Grand Rapids Harley Davidson and West Michigan's Most Wanted Hero of the Week for March 7, 2015.
