Sheriff Stephenson sworn in, past president Michigan Sheriffs’ Association
Trending
HARRISVILLE - Alcona County Sheriff Scott Stephenson has served the past year as president of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association (MSA). Stephenson said he is most proud of keeping things running smoothly during a turbulent election year.
Stephenson was recently sworn in as past president of the MSA, where he will continue to support the board, although he will no longer be a voting member. His term as president started Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31. He will serve as the past president in the calendar year 2027 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
As president of the MSA, Stephenson said he attended many meetings around the state. He sat on different committees, including the corrections officer training committee.
He attended the two in-person annual MSA conventions in June and October. The October convention was held in Traverse City.
Stephenson also attended two national sheriffs conferences where he represented Michigan's sheriffs.
As president, Stephenson said he has tried to be a voice that doesn't go too extreme in either direction politically. He has also been a voice for the smaller counties in Michigan.
Typically, the president of the MSA board is a sheriff from a larger county. The president before Stephenson was Muskegon County Sheriff Mike Poulin. The next president will be Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough.
Stephenson said there were sheriffs running for office this election.
"(We) had sheriffs running for governor and state senate," he said.
Stephenson said that being a steady voice behind things kept away any potential issues.
Stephenson had hoped to visit more of the sheriffs in Michigan's 83 counties during his tenure as president, but said he made it to around 20 different counties to visit with sheriffs and discuss their challenges, setbacks, and successes.
Stephenson was also recently appointed to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). He will serve a four year term on that board.
In that position, he said he will still be reporting back to the MSA board for at least the next four years.
Reagan Voetberg can be reached at rvoetberg@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5683.