By Jim Bloch
Port Huron Police Chief Joseph Platzer introduced three new police officers at the city council’s regular meeting Jan. 22 — Matthew Genilla, Brett O’Neill and Skylar Snay.
The introductions took place immediately before the public comment portion of the agenda, during which nine of 12 speakers criticized the department for its handling of a bar fight at the Roche Bar on Nov. 4, during which Josh Conant, 26, was killed. One of the other speakers criticized the police department for issuing parking tickets in front of the Wrigley Center.
“Officer Genilla comes to us from Pittsburgh,” said Platzer, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube. “He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State and then came here to the Port Huron area. Once he got here, he went through our Citizens Police Academy … and met with Officer Baker and decided to make a change in his work environment. He also comes from a police background. His dad just retired as the deputy chief out of a department in Pennsylvania.”
O’Neill is a graduate of Port Huron Northern High School.
“He was a cadet with us,” said Platzer. “He earned his associate’s degree at St. Clair County Community College and then went to the Police Academy.”
The three officers were hired in December.
Snay is a graduate of Marysville High School, earned an associate’s degree at SC4 and served as a police cadet with PHPD.
“All three of them went to the Oakland Police Academy starting in September 2023,” said Platzer. “Nice thing about that is through the Michigan Police Hiring Grant, all three of them went through on the grant, so the city didn’t have to pay anything.”
“Wow,” said council member Anita Ashford.
“All their uniforms, their tuition and also their salary was taken care of,” said Platzer. “So with that, they were sworn-in in December. They’re in their second phase of field training. If everything goes as planned, they’ll be ready for certified patrol by themselves in April of this year.”
Welcome to the city of Port Huron, the chief said.
Each officer stepped up to the council table and shook hands with Mayor Pauline Repp, City Manager James Freed, City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck and the six city council members.
The audience applauded.
“Welcome to all three of you,” Repp said.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
