Recently one morning, I came to work and found a framed copy of a poem on my desk. Called “Everyday Heroes,” it pays tribute to people who show heroism in many different ways:  from parents who care for their children to men and women whose courage serves — and sometimes even saves — others.

I found out that someone had dropped it off anonymously the previous evening at the front desk of the police department. This person did not even give her name, but just presented it as a token of appreciation for the work of the officers of the Dearborn Police Department.

Well, my friend, whoever you are, I’d like to issue a public and heartfelt thank you for your thoughtfulness and appreciation. Words can’t really express how much this simple gift means to myself and my officers. It’s a powerful thing to receive a tribute like this from one of the people that we have sworn to protect and serve.

I can’t help but wonder what led you to do this, how one of my officers may have impacted your life in a positive way?  Did we help you at an accident scene? Did we deal with a call about a suspicious person in your neighborhood? Did we chase a robbery suspect off of your property? Did we wait with you until the tow truck showed up to deal with your car that had broken down that day?

Then I realized something — no matter what it was, big or small, to you it made our police officers into “Everyday Heroes.” And that makes me very proud.

I’m proud to have served my hometown as a Dearborn police officer for the past quarter of a century. And I’m proud to lead a department with some of the best public safety professionals to be found anywhere. The success that the men and women of the Dearborn Police Department achieve for our citizens is exceeded only by the dedication and courage they display on the job every single day.

Ma’am, I want you to know that your gift will hang with pride in the police roll call room where our officers meet at the start of each work shift, as a reminder of why we choose this profession.

Each of us receives many gifts in life — presents at Christmas and birthdays or remembrances for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and anniversaries. But every so often, we get one that really hits home. This was one of them for me — a gift that truly will keep on giving.

Everyday Heroes

There are all kinds of heroes who live in this world,

All kinds of heroes we meet.

They are there in our circle of family and friends,

And the strangers we pass on the street.

There are heroes who somehow find strength to go on,

Even when they feel weary inside.

And heroes whose gift is their honest emotion,

The truth of the tears they have cried.

There are heroes whose courage saves people and nations,

Who search out the safe path ahead.

And heroes whose job is to quietly listen,

Or tuck a small child into bed.

There are everyday heroes who touch our hearts deeply,

Without even knowing they do.

There are heroes around us wherever we go –

There’s a hero right now within you.

Michael Celeski is Chief of the Dearborn Police Department