Sgt Korey Kelley, Benzie County Sheriffs Office: letter to include corrections officers in PA 312

Summary

A letter from Sgt Korey Kelley, Corrections Sergeant at the Benzie County Sheriffs Office, to The Honorable Steve Marino, Chairman, and members of the Commerce and Tourism Committee. It urges the committee to support House Bill 5623, sponsored by Rep. Jack O'Malley, which would include county corrections officers in the definition of public police. The letter states that whether a deputy sheriff works on the road or in the jail, both are critical service personnel and should be eligible for the same PA 312 protections. It describes the bill as a tool for retention and recruitment of corrections officers in Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Honorable Steve Marino

Chairman, Commerce and Tourism Committee
S-788 House Office Building

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Chairman Marino and members of the Commerce and Tourism Committee:

As County Corrections Sergeant, public safety is my number one priority. Law
enforcement takes on a variety of roles, jobs and responsibilities, but the
commitment to service and the safety of our public runs deep within the core of all
law enforcement officers.

| write to urge the Commerce and Tourism Committee to support House Bill 5623
sponsored by Rep. Jack O'Malley. House Bill 5623 would include county
corrections officers in the definition of public police. As a result of a rogue court
opinion, county corrections officers are not currently eligible to utilize PA 372.
Whether a deputy sheriff works on the road or in the jail they are critical service
personnel and should be eligible for the same PA 312 protections.

As Corrections Sergeant, this is important from a recruitment and retention
standpoint in our jails. All law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep existing
employees and find new talent. This is another tool for the retention and
recruitment of corrections officers in Michigan.

Finally, as we have seen the past several months during this COVID-19 pandemic,
deputies that work in jails have one of the most difficult jobs. Now is the time to fix
this statue and include corrections officers in PA 312.

Respectfully,
Sgt Korey Kelley

Benzie County Sheriffs Office Corrections Sergeant
Wexford County Resident


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2020-06-10_testimony_comm-2019-sgt-korey-kelley_43135.pdf

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Our copy

2020-06-10_testimony_comm-2019-sgt-korey-kelley_43135.pdf

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