As Sheriff of Eaton County, I will evaluate the overall operations of the Sheriff’s department to identify opportunities for improvement. This will ensure duties, assignments, and programs are implemented in an efficient, effective manner. A responsible Sheriff that is capable of recognizing the needs of his department and the residents of Eaton County, is long overdue. I will be accessible to residents of Eaton County to discuss your concerns about our services, programs, and personnel. Input from citizens is very important to me. When an emergency or crisis occurs in Eaton County, the community needs to know that the issues will be promptly and properly addressed by their Sheriff. I will be present, leading my department members as we work effectively to resolve the problem.
Necessary changes are needed that will renew the community’s admiration and respect for the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department and I have identified the following initiatives my administration would focus on.
Initiative #1: Create an environment that is effective and efficient by establishing, implementing and enforcing policies and procedures for administrative services, law enforcement division, and the corrections division.
Initiative #2: Evaluate the effectiveness and consistent application of all county-wide programs. This will include:
- Analyzing current county-wide community policing programs, to identify needs and institute necessary changes of the department’s overall operational plan.
- Study the overall effectiveness of the Victim/Witness Unit and if necessary restructure the program and/or command. Actively seek volunteers.
- Support and restructure the Sheriff’s Mounted Division.
Initiative #3: Create a diversity training program for department staff. Evaluate the current hiring practices of qualified applicants, including veterans preference.
Initiative #4: As Sheriff I will take an active role in and oversee the operations of the Animal Control Division. I will ensure timely investigations of animal neglect and cruelty are completed and aggressively seek criminal prosecution of offenders. I will develop programs which meet community expectations for pet adoptions. I would never have allowed the sale of pets from the Animal Control Division to laboratories for research experiments.
Initiative #5: Develop a well-check program with Eaton County senior citizens and people with disabilities to ensure their safety and welfare. Become involved with senior citizen groups and retirement homes to develop meaningful programs that would benefit their well being.
Initiative #6: Work at reducing serious injury and fatal accidents in the county by developing a proactive traffic enforcement plan. I believe traffic enforcement should be concentrated in areas and at intersections which have a high rate of vehicular crashes and also near our schools to protect our children from speeding and careless drivers. I don't believe in traffic citation "quotas" and will not encourage my Deputies to work "speed traps" in isolated areas which have no significant history of traffic complaints or crashes.
Initiative #7: Develop a highly effective proactive community based corrections program. Improve working relationships with the Prosecutors Office, Probation Department, and Courts to become an effective team and ensure the development of quality correction programs to save taxpayer dollars.
Initiative #8: Create a new corrections committee that will improve current programs and develop innovative educational programs within the correction facility.
Initiative #9: Assign a school liaison officer to work closely with other local jurisdictions to:
- Continuously work on effective programs that would deter youths from using drugs and alcohol.
- Include a proactive program that will address domestic violence, hate crimes, etc… in our schools.
- Establish an Internet safety program to identify, locate, and arrest on line-predators.
Initiative #10: Establish a hands-on leadership program, overseeing essential activities of the department and the people performing these services.
Initiative #11: Maximize the use of technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Sheriff’s department staff and programs.
Initiative #12: Meet monthly with township government officials to gain a greater understanding of their law enforcement issues and implement strategies to better serve them.
Initiative #13: Actively seek out private and federal grant funds for the construction of a training facility for staff that would house an indoor shooting range with class room settings. I believe excellent training helps create excellent Deputies.
Initiative #14: Develop a Jail Utilization Coordinating Committee to regularly monitor jail population, structuring alternatives to achieve solutions to future overcrowding.
Initiative #15: Establish new long term innovative techniques in all areas of law enforcement, eliminating the use of band-aid solutions to problem areas. Newly created and current programs must have a measurable value, must be efficient and be successful to all involved.
Initiative #16: Continue active administration in the oversight of the current Deputy assigned to the Tri-County Metro Narcotics Squad. Analyze reports, conduct drug activity investigations and evaluate the unit’s objectives to determine if Eaton County is benefiting from this assignment. Work closely as well with the Lansing Police Department drug unit to combat the drug problems in Delta Township.
Initiative #17: Establish a county wide multi-jurisdiction committee within Eaton County, where law enforcement agencies would discuss criminal activity, solutions, and mutual emergency aid. Develop and implement effective programs to address prevention of re-occurrences of discussed issues.
Let's move into the 21st Century and put to rest the tired old policies of the current Sheriff!
