Parks Officer and MSEA Union Member to Receive Lifesaving Award
Union member honored for heroic rescue that saved a child’s life at Silver Lake State Park, highlighting the vital role of Michigan’s public service workers.
LANSING, MI — When a young boy became trapped under a collapsed sand dune at Silver Lake State Park last summer, Parks and Recreation Officer Joel Collinson didn’t hesitate. With the help of others, he dug through the sand, uncovered the boy, and immediately began CPR—saving the child’s life.
On Tuesday, April 23, at 3:00 p.m., the Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA) and State Senator Jon Bumstead will present Officer Collinson with a Lifesaving Award in recognition of his heroic actions. The ceremony will take place at the Michigan Senate Binsfeld Building in Lansing.
Collinson, 27, has served as a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Officer since May 2023 and is a proud MSEA member. He works at Silver Lake State Park in Mears, where the incident occurred in June 2024.
“This is what public service looks like,” said MSEA Executive Director Erik Bailey. “Parks and Recreation Officers throughout the State of Michigan go above and beyond the call of duty every day. Joel epitomizes what it means to serve the public—he didn’t just respond, he saved a life. His brave and decisive actions reflect the courage and commitment of all Michigan public employees who put service before self. We are proud to stand with him.”
AFSCME, the national union representing MSEA members, has long championed the importance of well-trained, empowered public service workers—those who are first to respond when crisis strikes, often with little recognition. In moments like these, the value of that work becomes undeniable.
Senator Bumstead, whose 32nd District includes Silver Lake State Park, will present the award jointly with MSEA leadership.
The rescued child has since recovered, a testament to the swift action taken by Officer Collinson and nearby bystanders, a situation which could have turned fatal without his intervention.
WHO: Joel Collinson, Parks and Recreation Officer, MSEA union member, Erik Bailey, Executive Director, Michigan State Employees Association, State Senator Jon Bumstead (R-32nd District)
WHAT: Officer Collinson is receiving a Lifesaving Award for rescuing and reviving a 12-year-old boy trapped in a collapsed sand dune.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 23, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Michigan Senate Binsfeld Building, Lansing, Michigan
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The Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA), AFSCME Local 5, represents more than 4,500 public service workers across state, county, and university jobs. Founded by state employees in 1950, we are united by a shared commitment to public service and a belief that every worker deserves respect. We fight for justice on the job and negotiate not just for our families, but for the communities we serve. We are MSEA—and we never quit.