CALHOUN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A longtime veteran of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s office will now lead the department.
A special appointment committee selected Detective Steve Hinkley to be the next Calhoun County Sheriff, starting the job on April 18th and continuing until the current term expires.
Hinkley was unanimously chosen by committee members and was also the only one who applied for the office. The detective has worked for the sheriff’s office for 27 years, and will soon replace outgoing sheriff Matt Saxton.
Saxton has served as leader of Calhoun County’s deputies for 8 years and plans to leave the position in April to serve as executive director of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association.
The new sheriff was selected by a special panel composed of the Calhoun County clerk, prosecuting attorney, and probate judge.
One hurdle during the appointment process was that his wife Kim Hinkley was also appointed to complete the term of clerk Anne Norlander, who retired in 2019. She said that upon being sworn in another staffer from the clerk’s office would take her place and she would recuse herself from any appointment responsibility.
Originally an officer in Springport and Homer, Hinkley joined the Calhoun County force in 1992. He has served in a variety of roles including as a road patrol officer and detective until being promoted to head of the detective bureau.
