LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Sheriff John Pollack joined Sheriffs Rick Fuller of Kalamazoo County and Scott Wigglesworth of Ingham County Tuesday at the State Capital in Lansing to express their opposition to a pair of bills before the Michigan Senate that would allow hospitals, malls, universities and housing complexes to hire ready-made Police Departments from private contractors.
A hearing was held in front of the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Senate Leader Arlen Meekhof is sponsoring the bills that would give the private police agencies regular police powers but opponents like Fuller claim they would not be accountable.
The Sherriff’s were also concerned that the proposed legislation would allow felons to be hired if their felony conviction was over five years old.
The committee took no action on the legislation. Meekhof says they are misinterpreting the proposals.
