Clare County Sheriff, John S. Wilson: letter to the Commerce and Tourism Committee (June 8, 2020)

Summary

A letter dated June 8, 2020 from John S. Wilson, Sheriff, Office of the Clare County Sheriff, to The Honorable Steve Marino, Chairman, and members of the Commerce and Tourism Committee. It urges support for 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, as a result of a court opinion, county corrections officers are not currently eligible to utilize PA 312, and that the change matters for recruitment and retention in jails. It asks the committee to include corrections officers in PA 312.

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Office of the Clare County Sheriff

255 West Main Street,

P.O, Box 407 Harrison, Mi.
John S. Wilson, Sheriff Telephone: (989) 539-7166

Dwayne Miedzianowski, Undersheriff Fax: (989) 539-5721

June 8, 2020

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 Sheriff, public safety is my number one priority. Law enforcement takes on a
variely 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.

I write to urge the Commerce and Tourism Committee to support House Bill 5623
sponsored by Rep. Jack O'Malley. House Bill 5623 would include counly 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 312. 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 Sheriff, this is important from a recruitment and retention slandpoint 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.

Sheriff John S. Wilson
Clare County


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