Introduction:

We are facing difficult times here in Macomb County and throughout the state. Property tax revenues, the primary source of funding for local governments, have and will continue to decrease. In the face of this challenge we must maintain public safety.

Many of our local communities have been forced to reduce law enforcement and fire protection resources. All of us feel less safe in our homes and businesses. I am dedicated to providing and improving the public safety our families, neighborhoods and communities deserve.

My four point plan re-invents and re-enforces the primary role of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department.

1. Formalize relationships between the Sheriff’s Department and all local law enforcement agencies within the County to eliminate duplication of efforts and allow the local departments to free up officers for crucial street-level enforcement.
2. Strengthen current and develop new specialized service units within the Sheriff’s Department that all local departments can utilize. Examples of such service units are K-9, Swat Team, Criminal Investigative Assistance and Fire Investigation.
3. Formalize and review relationships with the courts throughout the county to more effectively utilize modern technology (video arraignment is one example) and scheduling to free up officers for crucial street-level enforcement.
4. Re-organize the county jail as a Corrections Center that effectively generates revenue from non-violent offenders through expanded work release, tether programs and community service and creates needed space in the jail. By creating this space we can eliminate the current quota system that restricts our judges from placing offenders that need to be in jail and off the streets.

I’m a street cop. I come from a family of street cops. There are solutions to our public safety needs. These solutions come from the streets not from behind a desk.