EMU Police Officer goes ‘above and beyond’ to assist Afghan families living on Eastern’s campus

EMU Police Officer Patrick McGill provides an Afghan family with a fan to cool their apartment.
EMU Police Officer Patrick McGill provides an Afghan family with a fan to cool their apartment.

YPSILANTI --  Several Afghanistan refugee families living on Eastern’s campus recently benefited from the actions of EMU Police Officer Patrick McGill. In the midst of the late June heat wave, Officer McGill responded to a service call that some of the Afghan families were without fans to cool their apartments. Out of his own pocket and without being asked, he purchased seven fans for the families to help them cope with the heat.

“I just thought that it was the right thing to do when someone calls the police asking for service," said Officer McGill. "I could not leave without doing something for them.”

"This is an outstanding example of an EMU police officer acting with humanity and compassion,” said EMU Chief of Police Matthew Lige. “I'm very proud of Officer McGill for going above and beyond to help these families".

Late last year, the University announced in collaboration with Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County (JFSWC), it would host approximately a dozen refugee families from Afghanistan in its campus apartments as part of their resettlement to the United States.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up-to-date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.

July 12, 2022

Written by:
Walter Kraft

Media Contact:
Melissa Thrasher
mthrashe@emich.edu
734-487-4401