QUINCY, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Sheriff John Pollack is making an effort to have the public be aware of his concerns about information provided by the lawyer for the Quincy School District.
Attorney Robert Huber said during a May 26, 2017 special meeting of the Quincy Board of Education that the Sheriff’s Department had requested Quincy Community Schools to halt their administrative investigation of two administrators with the district. Huber has been looking into the conduct of Superintendent Craig Artist and high school principal David Spalding, now both suspended, regarding allegations against former teacher Jason Ferrell.
Many in the Quincy community have raised questions about how past and present teachers and administrators managed accusations against Ferrell. Criminal sexual conducts charges have been filed in both Branch and Calhoun counties against Ferrell in connection with alleged incidents involving one of his former female students. The 20-year teacher in the Quincy system resigned in January after being confronted with details of his alleged improper behavior.
Huber’s statement that he read at last month’s special school board meeting was based in part on an e-mail he received from Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Mike Gatke. The e-mail said Gatke didn’t disagree with Huber saying the Sheriff’s Department wanted Huber’s investigation temporarily suspended until law enforcement officials complete their own investigation.
Sheriff Pollack says his office made no request to have Huber shut down his probe, contrary to Gatke’s e-mail. Pollack says he doesn’t want to be critical of his Sergeant and prejudge Gatke’s intent in his response to Huber.
The Sheriff also says he was in touch Wednesday with interim Quincy School Superintendent Martin Chard in an attempt to guarantee Chard keeps an open communication line with the Sheriff’s Department as the situation with Artist and Spalding moves forward.
