Last year, my opponent chose to prosecute an Allegan County Deputy who was involved in a collision during a high speed chase. The Michigan State Police conducted an investigation and concluded that the deputy followed the appropriate protocols. Despite that, our prosecutor chose to prosecute the Allegan County Deputy with the Allegan County Prosecutor’s office. She could have recused her office to let a different prosecutor decide whether to pursue charges, but she didn’t. The case proceeded to trial here in Allegan County and the Deputy was acquitted. There is now a completely understandable fracture between the Deputies of Allegan County and their support for the current prosecutor. This is part of the incompetence I intend to remedy. Law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office must be able to work with one another in an environemnt of trust and cooperation.
I will always have the backs of law enforcement. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our communities. It is vital that the prosecutor’s office works closely with law enforcement, and my opponent has significantly damaged her relationship with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.