Jim Chambers and Scott Holzinger talk about sheriff department needs

Two Republicans, former Midland County Jail corrections officer Jim Chambers and Midland County Sheriff’s Workplace Detective Scott Holzinger, are vying to be the subsequent Midland County Sheriff. They face one another on the Aug. 6 major election poll. The profitable candidate will seem unopposed on the November common election poll. 

The candidates have been despatched a questionnaire from the Each day Information through e-mail. The next are their unedited solutions. 

MDN: How has your earlier skilled expertise in regulation enforcement ready you for the position of Midland County Sheriff?

Chambers: If elected my earlier years of expertise on the highway and my a few years of working within the jail would assist tremendously on this position. Together with my expertise working my very own enterprise for over 25 years.

Holzinger: In my 21 years on the Sheriff’s Workplace, I’ve labored in Courtroom Safety, Jail, Highway Patrol and as a Detective. I served as President of the Midland Patrol Deputies Affiliation, and I presently function Vice President for this group. I’ve labored immediately with county administration on finances and HR points. As a licensed police officer, I convey a novel perspective to the place as I’ve first-hand expertise. Legislation enforcement has modified dramatically prior to now 20 years, and I imagine it’s essential to maintain our workplace shifting ahead in a contemporary and environment friendly approach.

What position can a sheriff play in shaping the connection between the Midland County neighborhood and regulation enforcement?

Chambers: I hope to have extra interactions with the neighborhood of midland county to assist inform them and assist practice them. In order that they perceive the legal guidelines together with feeling extra comfy to return to us when in time of want.

Holzinger: A Sheriff ought to be seen and out there to his/her constituents and work onerous to make sure neighborhood policing is a precedence. The position of Sheriff is totally different as a result of it’s crammed by the desire of the voters. A Sheriff is just not solely the chief of the division, but additionally a consultant of the individuals who elected her or him. A Sheriff also needs to collaborate with different regulation enforcement businesses and neighborhood companions to reinforce the standard of life within the county. By doing these items, a Sheriff can construct a constructive and respectful relationship with all Midland County stakeholders.

Are you a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Affiliation or some other group that helps the “constitutional sheriff” motion? Do you imagine within the “constitutional sheriff” philosophy – that sheriffs have extra regulation enforcement energy of their house counties than some other authorities physique or particular person? In case you answered “sure” to both query, please elaborate in your connections to the “constitutional sheriff” motion.

Chambers: I’m not a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Affiliation presently however can be if elected. I hope to have the ability to work with all different company’s that work with Midland County. I additionally hope to have the ability to develop {our relationships} and solely must step in when it’s legally wanted.

Holzinger: I don’t belong to those organizations. The Structure of the State of Michigan states that the Sheriff elected in every of the 83 counties serves because the chief regulation enforcement official within the county. A Sheriff does have further regulation enforcement energy throughout the county outdoors of working the jail and serving court docket orders akin to evictions. This makes the place of Sheriff totally different then a Chief of Police.

Psychological health-related incidents that require a regulation enforcement response have turn out to be extra frequent. How will you make sure that deputies are correctly educated to deal with these conditions sensitively and successfully?

Chambers: In terms of Psychological well being calls, I’ll present my deputies with all of the coaching attainable so hopefully they’re able to get one of the best end result attainable when on these calls. I might additionally work on discovering an alternate for anybody who’s coping with psychological well being issues different than simply putting them in jail and never getting the care they want.

Holzinger: My present position consists of investigation of sexual and extreme bodily abuse of each adults and youngsters. Via these investigations, I’ve been afforded the chance to work with a Multi-Disciplinary Workforce (MDT) which incorporates representatives from many native businesses. Though it will not be relevant for all conditions, I imagine that the creation of a mental-health disaster response group, much like the MDT, can be helpful in sure disaster conditions. I might additionally make the most of native companions akin to Neighborhood Psychological Well being to offer coaching and academic updates.

As cybercrime turns into extra of s concern, together with identification theft and fraud, what steps will you’re taking to equip the sheriff’s division with the mandatory instruments and coaching to fight these high-tech crimes?”

Chambers: If elected I might work on getting the detectives all of the coaching attainable to assist cybercrime investigations. I might additionally work on offering the neighborhood with educations and brochures to assist retaining them knowledgeable.

Holzinger: Cybercrime is just not an issue that we will ignore. It requires a coordinated and collaborative effort from all stakeholders, together with regulation enforcement, county IT professionals, personal sector, and the general public. Like many different areas of regulation enforcement, maintaining with coaching alternatives and schooling is essential. Our personnel shall be outfitted with a fundamental understanding of those crimes, how to answer them, and assist educate the general public as many incidents are utterly preventable. I like to recommend checking your credit score report a minimal of two occasions a 12 months and make sure you report any suspicious accounts or exercise.

How do you propose to make sure transparency and accountability throughout the sheriff’s workplace?

Chambers: I’ll work the general public information businesses as a lot as attainable to ensure the neighborhood is as educated as attainable with something difficulty that could be occurring in the neighborhood. The correction can be taken care of throughout the Sheriff’s division to do our greatest to ensure it didn’t occur once more.

Holzinger: Transparency and accountability are two important values for any regulation enforcement company. If elected Sheriff, I intend to uphold these values by encouraging and supporting the skilled improvement and coaching of the employees and rewarding exemplary efficiency and conduct. I may even solicit enter and suggestions from the neighborhood and the employees on tips on how to enhance the companies and efficiency of the Sheriff’s workplace.

When an incident happens that creates a breach of belief with the general public, how do you propose to share that info and ensure that conduct doesn’t occur once more? 

Chambers: I might work alongside of some other company that works inside Midland County to maintain communication open.

Holzinger: I pledge to be trustworthy and open concerning the info surrounding any incident during which the workplace has a breach of belief with the general public and share the data in a well timed method. Figuring out the explanations as to why the incident occurred is crucial, and consideration for division large coaching, and coverage implementation would happen. And, I’ll maintain myself and the employees accountable for our actions and choices, and can take corrective and disciplinary actions when needed.

How do you propose to reinforce collaboration with different regional, state and federal regulation enforcement businesses to handle crime in Midland County?

Chambers: I might work on retaining the nice collaboration with all surrounding counties.

Holzinger: Sharing a facility with the Midland Police Division (MPD), together with SWAT and the Dive and Rescue group are issues which are already in place. There is a chance to develop collaboration with MPD and supply extra sources to each businesses. Examples of this embrace crime scene response and accident reconstruction. Whereas these two issues are reactive responses, I imagine that it could be helpful by retaining our deputies out there to do proactive patrols. I might additionally proceed the relationships that the workplace has with regional, state and federal businesses by being an lively member of various teams and boards.

Hiring and retaining personnel are two huge issues for the division. What steps can a sheriff take to handle each of these points and assist make the division a lovely place to work for employment candidates?

Chambers: If elected one in every of my first duties can be to work on hiring full time staff within the jail to assist with the excessive turnover fee. I might additionally work on hiring disabled employees to work within the management middle of the jail. It could be a fantastic alternative to offer them a job expertise together with filling jobs within the jail. It is a safe space within the jail that no inmates would have entry to. This might give the present deputies the flexibility to be utilized out on the ground.

Holzinger: We’re lucky to stay in a neighborhood that’s supportive of regulation enforcement. With that, one of many challenges {that a} Sheriff faces is to draw and retain certified and devoted personnel who can serve the neighborhood with professionalism and integrity. I’ll supply alternatives for profession development and improvement by mentoring, teaching, and coaching applications. With my expertise in lots of departments throughout the workplace, I even have the expertise required to create a constructive and supportive work atmosphere that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Presently all Midland County deputies are Caucasian. Ought to the sheriff take steps to assist diversify the division and make it extra of the neighborhood? If sure, what would you do?

Chambers: To my information the sheriff’s division has employed a younger woman to work out on the highway from the spring academy. Additionally to my information the sheriff’s division is sponsoring a non-Caucasian male this fall in hopes he’ll come work for the division. I might hold working in direction of hiring anybody certified and keen to study. If elected I wouldn’t take race, faith, intercourse, or political get together into consideration when hiring.

Holzinger: Presently, the Sheriff’s Workplace employs numerous group members – from a variety of ages and experiences, gender and ethnicity. Bridge the Hole is a program that has been efficiently utilized by the Midland Police Division, and it is a program that I might study extra about if elected, with the aim of continuous to draw and retain numerous, certified expertise.

In case you have been in a position to pay for added coaching for deputies, what kind of coaching would you prioritize? What are the areas that you simply assume are most important?

Chambers: If elected and the finances allowed, I might put forth the additional coaching for cybercrimes together with tips on how to deal with home deputies. Final, I might work on ensuring the youth of Midland county have been getting the coaching they want.

Holzinger: Efficient communication is crucial to offering a high-level of service and dealing in direction of de-escalation in extremely annoying conditions De-escalation coaching is a kind of coaching that teaches regulation enforcement officers tips on how to defuse probably violent or tense conditions with out resorting to drive or aggression. It will possibly cut back the danger of harm or demise for each officers and civilians, and importantly – it will possibly improve belief and cooperation between the police and the neighborhood, resulting in improved public security and crime prevention. If elected, de-escalation coaching that focuses on strengthening communication strategies shall be a precedence.

 Tereasa Nims is a criminal offense and courts reporter with the Midland Each day Information. She will be reached at [email protected]