Sergeant Nate Guigear and Officer Erin Hodge Receive 2025 Police Officer of the Year Award
On Christmas morning, while many were beginning to unwrap gifts or sip their first cup of coffee, two Grand Blanc police officers were responding to a life-or-death situation. Their actions that day would save a woman’s life and earn them one of the most distinguished honors in Michigan law enforcement.
Police Officers Association of Michigan is proud to recognize Sergeant Nathan Guigear and Officer Erin Hodge as recipients of this year’s Police Officer of the Year Award.
A Christmas Morning Call for Help
At approximately 5:18 a.m., dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a structure fire with possible entrapment at Perry Place Apartments in Grand Blanc.
The call was urgent: a resident was trapped inside her second-floor apartment as smoke and flames spread throughout the building. The caller could not reach her.
Sergeant Guigear and Officer Hodge were among the first to arrive. They were directed to her apartment, where black smoke was already seeping from the doorframe. The hallway was thick with smoke, and conditions inside the apartment were worsened by extreme hoarding, which made entry difficult.
Upon hearing a faint call for help from inside the apartment, Sergeant Guigear made a decisive and courageous move. He removed his body armor and gear, requested a flashlight and fire gear, and entered the apartment on his hands and knees, crawling into complete darkness and heavy smoke to reach the trapped woman.
He located the unconscious woman near her bedroom and began dragging her toward the door. Officer Hodge, now back at the apartment after coordinating gear support and communicating with additional responding officers, met him at the top of the stairs. Together, they carried the woman through the smoke-filled corridor and down the stairs to safety.
Once outside, the woman was struggling to breathe. Officers quickly coordinated with EMS, who had just arrived. The officers lifted her once again and brought her to the awaiting ambulance.
She was transported to the closest medical center in critical condition but survived, thanks to the swift actions and teamwork of Sergeant Guigear and Officer Hodge. It was later determined that a carelessly discarded cigarette had started the fire.
Honoring True Public Servants
After ensuring the resident was safely in the hands of medical personnel, the officers returned to the building to clear other apartments and evacuate remaining residents. Their efforts that morning exemplified everything the POAM stands for: selflessness, bravery, and dedication to protecting the lives of others.
Sergeant Nathan Guigear and Officer Erin Hodge were formally recognized for their heroism at the 2025 POAM Police Officer of the Year Awards.
“This is the kind of story that reminds us why we do what we do,” said a POAM representative at the ceremony. “Their actions were nothing short of extraordinary. Because of their courage, a life was saved—and a family was spared the tragedy of loss.”
The Police Officers Association of Michigan congratulates Sergeant Guigear and Officer Hodge on this well-deserved honor. Their bravery reflects the highest law enforcement standards and Michigan officers’ unwavering commitment to the communities they serve, 365 days a year.