Legislation Would Change the Way Michigan Chooses Sheriffs

Read Time:3 Minute, 48 Second

(TNS) – To be sheriff in Michigan, a person needs just two things: To be a qualified elector in the county where they’re seeking the job, and then to win an election.

But that could change under legislation looking to update those parameters, with the lead Republican on the bill, Rep. Brian BeGole of Perry, saying failing to do so “is really an accident waiting to happen.”

“This legislation, more than anything seeks to avert … a violent situation where you have somebody that doesn’t have any experience on the scene and, because of that, we have a loss of life,” said BeGole, who previously served as Shiawassee County Sheriff until his election to the House in 2022.

Current statute only dictates a person must live in the area where they’re seeking a four-year term for county sheriff and be eligible to vote, though it’s not a requirement the person is registered to vote in the county they’re running.

This is the same for other elected county positions such as clerk or treasurer, but county prosecutors and judges need to be licensed attorneys.

Under House Bill 4981, a person seeking the office of sheriff would still need to live in the county, but would additionally need to have served as either a licensed law enforcement officer or a corrections officer for a period of at least five years.

This would not apply retroactively, meaning sheriffs who don’t already possess a law enforcement background would be able to keep their jobs.

It’s unknown if any sheriffs in office currently don’t meet those proposed requirement.

When asked, Michigan Association of County Sheriffs Deputy Director Dan Pfannes said the topic was a “moot point anyways,” due to the grandfathering portion of the bill.

“Each of Michigan’s 83 elected sheriffs who are in office today were qualified to hold the position and not a single person in office today would be effected if this proposed change was, or wasn’t approved,” he said. “If a person in office today did not have that licensure or certification, currently, the proposed changes would not apply to them, as the bill would specifically exempt them from those requirements.”

David Carter, a professor at Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice, said Michigan isn’t necessarily behind the curve when it comes to not having specific qualification requirements for county sheriffs.

Many do require some level of training and certification, he added, though how much varies state from state.

The association is supportive of the increased qualifications requirements, too, Pfannes said, telling MLive the move has been a long time coming and could be a great improvement to the practice of policing in the state of Michigan.

“At the end of the day, the public has demanded professionalization from law enforcement,” said Pfannes, a 41-year veteran of law enforcement. “I’m a firm believer that whether it’s experience requirements, in general education, your background – I think those are thigs that lead to a greater professionalization in our business. I think the public demands that, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable … to put ourselves on par with other entities that have requirements for licensure.”

During his own tenure as sheriff, BeGole said he was responsible for a litany of operations including road patrol, the detective bureau, emergency management and 911 services.

To think that someone could be in charge of dispatch following a natural disaster or school shooting, though have no prior experience in overseeing such things, BeGole said it could literally be the difference of life and death.

“Having a sheriff that lacks the understanding of a proper law enforcement protocols, and associated experience, also creates a turmoil in department – and I can speak firsthand of that,” he said. “When you have a candidate that doesn’t have any experience it hurts morale, it jeopardizes the stability of that department, people think about leaving if they had to work under somebody so inexperienced like that.”

The bill had a hearing in the House Elections Committee on Oct. 3, though has yet to receive a vote.