Stretch of Old US-23 To Be Named in Honor of Slain OfficerStretch of Old US-23 To Be Named in Honor of Slain Officer

8/13/13 - A stretch of local roadway will soon be named after a police officer from Livingston County killed in the line of duty. West Bloomfield Police Sgt. Patrick O’Rourke died last September when he was shot by a barricaded gunman in that community. The father of four lived with his wife Amy in Tyrone Township. Now two local legislators have made arrangements to name a portion of Old US-23 in his honor. The Sgt. Patrick John O’Rourke Memorial Highway will be designated at a ceremony next month for the portion of Old US-23 that stretches from M-59 to Center Road. Cindy Denby is a State Representative from Handy Township. She, along with State Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township, sought a way to honor O’Rourke’s sacrifice. Denby and Hune arranged for private funding of the signs. Denby says because they weren’t dealing with a state road, no legislative action was needed to make the name change. She said the signs will be a small way to honor O’Rourke’s legacy and let his children know that their father is regarded as a hero in their community. The dedication ceremony is tentatively planned for September 13th at 9am. Denby and Hune arranged for private funding to pay for the signs. Sgt. O’Rourke’s name was recently added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C. (JK)