×

Willey to take over as Marquette County undersheriff

WILLEY

MARQUETTE — Come January, the two top positions at the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office will be filled with new but familiar faces.

Sheriff-elect Greg Zyburt announced recently that current Ishpeming Police Department Chief Daniel Willey will serve as his undersheriff.

Willey, a 30-year veteran at the IPD, said he’s honored to have been given the opportunity to serve the county in larger capacity.

“I’m really looking forward to helping Greg as the undersheriff, and I’m honored and humbled that he asked me,” Willey said. “I look forward to serving my community.”

An Ishpeming native, Willey said he studied criminal justice at Northern Michigan University and served four years in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a patrolman at the IPD in 1986.

In 1996, he was promoted to detective sergeant and in 2011 to chief of police.

“Dan has a very similar administrative style as I do,” Zyburt said. “He’s a excellent police officer and one of the best detectives in Marquette County. He’s been a good friend and working acquaintance for a long period of time.”

Once in the position, Willey said he’d like to explore possible ways to improve conditions at the Marquette County Jail, including services to inmates with drug addictions, mental health issues and veterans suffering from disorders such as PTSD.

“We can always do better for the people who are mentally ill or drug addicted who end up in jail,” he said.

Willey also said he’d like to take a closer look at road patrol.

“I think the biggest concern — my biggest concern — is to maintain road patrol at the level we have now at least,” he said. “We don’t have 24-hour (road patrol). That would be a goal of mine.”

Willey said his last day at the IPD was Friday. Detective Chad Radabaugh has been appointed by the Ishpeming city manager to take over as interim chief while a candidate search is conducted.

Kelsie Thompson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is kthompson@miningjournal.net.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today