Karl Numinen

MARQUETTE — At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Marquette County Commission, the commission passed a resolution titled Resolution in Support of the People (Policies Encouraging Overall Professional Law Enforcement) by a 3-2 margin. The resolution underscores the professionalism of local law enforcement and encourages other law enforcement agencies entering Marquette County to meet those standards of professionalism.

Commissioners Karl Numinen, Dana LaLonde and Karen Alholm all voted yes on the resolution, while Chairperson Joe Derocha and Vice Chair Bill Nordeen voted no. Commissioner Fred Benzie was excused from Tuesday’s meeting.

The text of the resolution reads “Whereas, the Marquette County Board of Commissioners recognizes that our local law enforcement agencies, including the Michigan State Police, Marquette County Sheriff Department, Marquette City Police, the Township Police Departments and Campus Public Safety, exemplify the Gold Standard of law enforcement professionalism; and

Whereas, all our local law enforcement agencies have adopted policies and procedures designed to ensure the safety of our community, prevent criminal activity and effectively conduct criminal investigations; and

Whereas, all our local law enforcement agencies have developed appropriate protocols to guide individual officers in the performance of their duties, including: wearing standard issue uniforms, badging and name tags to clearly identify agencies and individual officers; utilizing body camera and dash camera recording equipment to document police/citizen encounters; following strict use of force policies to prevent unnecessary escalation of conflicts; strictly adhering to state and federal law.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, the Marquette County Board of Commissioners expects and encourages any other law enforcement agency coming into our community to meet these same standards of professionalism.”

The resolution was passed after a spirited conversation between commissioners.

“I met with Sheriff Zyburt,” said Numinen. “He reviewed (the resolution) and endorsed it. He has no problem with this resolution. In fact, he’s in favor of it … this resolution is in line with a variety of other communities across our state who have adopted similar resolutions, some a little more strong, some a little less strong. It’s also in line with some legislation that’s currently working its way through the Michigan State Legislature right now.”

Numinen was the commissioner who drafted the resolution.

“I don’t see that we have a problem (with federal law enforcement) right now,” said Nordeen. “And I’m afraid that by doing this, maybe it’ll attract a problem and it’ll attract the federal government … if we start pushing on the federal government, does that mean that we might lose some of the funding that we get from the federal government? I hate to see that.”

“This is about law enforcement,” said Derocha. “This is about — It’s not about Republican or Democrat. It’s what’s good for Marquette County. And I don’t see this being good for Marquette County.”

Derocha described himself as being a “hard no” on the resolution.

“I do want to stay in our lane and I don’t want to shine a light on us in any fashion,” said Nordeen. “I don’t want it to be political. I don’t want a bunch of national politics to invade Marquette County. I just don’t, and if we had the problem that Minneapolis had, I’d be right on board with something stronger than this. But we don’t have it. And I don’t want to create an atmosphere that maybe attracts it.”

“This (resolution) does not mention the federal government,” said Alholm. “… It’s recognizing that our police agencies are reassuring that people are able to follow the rules. It doesn’t mention Democrats. It doesn’t mention Republicans. It says, okay, yes, we have good law enforcement agencies in this county and they are doing their job and, you know, it’s about as bland in terms of politics as it can get. I would not call this political.”

“I’ve heard the phrase now ‘staying in our lane to avoid being political’, but I’ll say this,” said Numinen. “If staying in our lane means being afraid to speak out on issues of concern to our community members, then I’m not going to stay in my lane. I’m going to get in the passing lane and I’m going to go 85 miles an hour around the slow traffic that is clogging the lane because we need to open this up and we need to reflect the voice of the people that have come to all these meetings, sent in all these communications and have voiced their concerns loud and clear.

“We can’t avoid being political. We are a political body and there’s nothing in this resolution that’s going to jeopardize any federal funding or jeopardize any kind of lawsuit by the federal government. We still fortunately have some freedom of speech in our country and this is all that is. It’s a reflection of freedom of speech. It does not restrict any government agency. It does not prohibit any government action. It simply asks them to meet the same standards that our law enforcement have already adopted.”

“I want to make a public statement to let everybody know that when and if this ever blows up where our services are cut, you can rest assured how that’s going to roll,” said Derocha after the vote.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.