A Job Well Done

Allen Park Police Chief Chris Egan ends 25 years with the department next month, shortly after reaching the pinnacle of his career – a two-year process in which the department earns the State of Michigan best practices accreditation. He also helped establish, with officer Erik Jablonski, the APPD Officer Wellness and Peer Support program, which gives officers mental health support on a totally anonymous basis. “I’m really proud of our police officers,” Egan said. “They risk their lives every day. This program tries to ensure officers’ mental health to prevent police suicides.” Egan launched his law enforcement journey 33 years ago, working as a volunteer on the Trenton Auxiliary Police Department in 1992. He was later promoted to sergeant. “I found my passion for saving lives in law enforcement by assisting the Downriver Mutual Aid Crisis/Hostage Negotiations and SWAT Teams during barricaded gunman situations,” said Egan, who graduated from the City of Detroit Police Academy as president of his class. After Detroit, he went on to work in Allen Park, where he rose through the ranks and was named chief in 2020. “It was a privilege to serve in uniform and to help protect the community I grew up in,” he said. Egan earned a Master of Science Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Eastern Michigan University in 2019, when he was also awarded the 2019 Technology Student of the Year recognition. He went on to get his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in psychology, sociology and criminal justice, and was named a 2012 Difference Maker and the Humanities Intern of the Year for his volunteer work at First Step, which provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Wayne County. Egan continued his education by graduating from the FBI’s National Academy in 2022 and Eastern Michigan University’s School of Police Staff and Command Executive Leadership Program in 2016, where he served as the vice president and social director. Egan's mum, Pam (Metea) Egan, met Chris's father, Christopher Gregory Egan, while he was stationed on an American Air Force Base in England, where Chris was born. They later moved back to Egan's hometown of Allen Park. Christopher Egan Sr. passed away on Labor Day, 2024. Police chief retires after long career in law enforcement A Job Well Done Egan worked in APPD patrol as a motorcycle and field training officer, safety town coordinator, as a member of the honor guard and Comeback Quick Overdose Team, and was a hostage negotiator. Egan was also the commander of a Downriver hostage negotiators team and was voted the Downriver Operations chairman by Downriver chiefs. He also served as chairman of the Metro Narcotics Enforcement Team, and he is on the Advisory Board for the Wayne County Regional Police Academy. After retirement, Egan said he plans to volunteer, if needed, for the Allen Park honor guard. Egan said he was proud to bring officers and civilians together to write APPD’s new mission statement: “Everyone working together to enhance safety and service for our community and all who visit.” “I feel blessed and privileged to be an officer and police chief of Allen Park,” he said. “My wife (Kim Egan) and my Christian faith have been my rock. The community has always been supportive and I want to say thank you. Twenty-five years went by like a blink of an eye.”