Sergeant Ryan Bates Honored for Heroic Rescue at 2025 POAM Awards
During the 2025 Business Meeting, hosted at POAM’s annual convention, Clinton Township Sergeant Ryan Bates was honored for his extraordinary bravery and quick thinking that saved a man’s life on December 31, 2024.
At approximately 1:50 a.m., Clinton Township dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle submerged in a retention pond at the Harbors Apartment Complex on Bayview. Callers indicated someone was still trapped inside. Responding officers, including Sgt. Bates, quickly found a dark SUV floating in the pond with a driver still inside.
As officers coordinated from both sides of the pond and retrieved rescue equipment, Sgt. Bates noticed the vehicle’s front end beginning to sink. When the driver failed to respond to commands to exit the car, Sergeant Bates removed his body armor and duty belt, tied a rescue rope to a life jacket, and entered the frigid water.
Dramatic Rescue from Submerged Vehicle in Retention Pond
After wading 15 to 20 feet, Sgt. Bates was forced to swim to reach the SUV. As the vehicle began to submerge rapidly, he came through the open window, pulled the unresponsive driver from the car, and stabilized him in the life jacket. Fellow officers used the rope to pull them to safety just moments before the SUV sank completely.
The life-saving rescue was made possible by the coordinated efforts of multiple officers from the Clinton Township Police Department. Their teamwork, communication, and dedication ensured a swift and successful response.
POAM congratulates and deeply respects Sergeant Ryan Bates for his heroic actions. His bravery is a powerful reminder of the strength and character in Michigan’s law enforcement community.