Det. Sgt. Dan Denslow remembered for personability
Det. Sgt. Dan Denslow was a "super detective."
Employed at the Isabella County Sheriff's Department for 34 years, he has a list of duties and responsibilities that speak to the dedication for his job, but it was a spark of easy-going personability that made everyone he encountered feel welcome into his life.
Denslow died Tuesday morning at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing of complications following a surgery for internal bleeding. He was being treated at the facility for two months, and was in serious condition the last five weeks.
"He was always smiling, always trying to get people to laugh with a very welcoming personality and never had a bad thing to say, only kind words. That's Dan," said Bill Yeagley, Central Michigan University's next police chief.
Yeagley first met Denslow when he was a county dispatcher, a job he started in July 1975. In the mid-70s, dispatchers would run criminal history checks for officers on the scene.
After about seven years as a dispatcher, Denslow was promoted to work as a temporary road deputy. That job became official in 1987.
"It's not a common thing for any dispatcher to become a detective sargeant, but for someone like Dan, I am sure it was a breeze," Yeagley said. "I would listen to him on the radio when I started off on night shifts. When I would go to the jail, we would spend time talking, and he has such a welcoming personality, always finding a kind word to say in every conversation."
In his work as a road deputy, he wrote tickets and answered complaints, but did it with such grace that people wanted him around, Mioduszewski said.
"There was always something about Dan. People liked him, he was able to get them to open up. He was trustworthy," Mioduszewski said.
Growing up in Isabella County helped immensely, as people knew Denslow and he knew the people: what they wanted to hear, what their problems were and how to help them in almost every situation.
He was promoted again in 1997 to sergeant and then detective sergeant one year later.
Yeagely remembers Denslow as a man who aimed to please, one who tried to make you laugh every chance he had. Yeagley recalls Dan's favorite pieces to his outfit: cowboy boots and a large cowboy hat.
He said anytime he was wearing these,he couldn't wipe the smile off of Denslow's face, even if he tried.
"They were bigger than he was," Yeagley said. "He'd wear them with a wink and a smile. ... Dan was always willing to do whatever was asked of him, no matter how poor the job was. No task was too small for him. He's just a stand-up guy. I know we will all miss him."
Denslow, a 58-year-old lifelong Isabella County resident, graduated from Mount Pleasant High School. He served as a crisis negotiator for the Isabella County Emergency Services Team, an arson investigator with the "Cause and Origin" team and represented the department on the Child and Family Enrichment Council.
He was also a former member of the department's dive team and did undercover work with the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.
A great list of accomplishments made for a stellar career, but Denslow will be remembered for how he approached the job not his titles, said Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski. While a very loyal, dedicated officer, the grace of Denslow's smile is what made people feel at home in his company.
"It's very easy for police officers to make people unhappy, whether writing a speeding ticket or arresting them. That's not the case for Dan," Mioduszewski said. "(He) had a knack for never upsetting people at all. He didn't set out to do that, I don't think. It's just who he was. They respected him, he did it professionally. He's a super detective."
Denslow worked on multiple felony cases, Mioduszewski said, taking the lead on most investigations while working at the county sheriff's department.
Nearly 19 years ago, Mioduszewski and Denslow took multiple trips to Alpena in the summer for crisis negotiating training. The two would share an army-barrack style room with bunk beds - very tight quarters.
Mioduszewski describes himself as not being a morning person, but every summer he spent with Denslow, he was sort of forced to become one.
Denslow would wake up at 4 a.m., waking Mioduszewski along the way. The two would get an early morning workout at the gym.
"He convinced me to do it," Mioduszewski said with a laugh. "After the workout, we would still have two hours before the dining hall opened for breakfast. I am not a morning person, never was, but I enjoyed Dan's company too much too pass it up ... He always had a good sense of humor - nice comical, witty commentary."
Aside from his job, Denslow was an avid fisherman and deer hunter.
"Just a perfect employee, always had a smile on his face," Mioduszewski said. "When you first meet him it seems like you've known him all your life. Everybody loves him. He will be sorely missed."
A visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Road. His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church.
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