Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Kalamazoo Sheriff Primaries Draw Four Candidates

iStock Photo

Voters in Kalamazoo County face two primary contests for the office of sheriff August 2. One of the issues in the race is the relationship between law enforcement and the county’s minority residents.

Democrat Richard Fuller III was elected Kalamazoo County sheriff in 2008. His victory that year broke the Republican Party’s longtime hold on the office. Fuller won a second term in 2012 but now faces a primary opponent.

This year’s campaign takes place as the list of black men killed in encounters with police around the country continues to grow. And officers have been targeted in some places. Last week, Black Lives Matter in Kalamazoo demanded that the city punish public safety officers involved in the death of a black man who died as he was being taken to the County Jail.

Richard_Fuller-Web.mp3
Interview with Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller III (D)

Fuller says the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department takes all complaints about mistreatment of minority residents very seriously.

"When those things happen, we investigate them. If we find out that somebody feels that they were treated unfairly because of their race or a male-versus-female type situation, or LGBT, we investigate those. And I say 'we' as law enforcement across the board. The chiefs in this community and myself, we all belong to many organizations. We attend many of the meetings related to the relationship of the Northside Ministerial Alliance as well as the NAACP. And it's important to go to these things and to listen."

But Fuller says police can’t investigate if people don’t report problems. Overall, he says law enforcement agencies in the county have good relationships with people in all parts of the community and serve them well.

Fuller’s Democratic primary challenger has been a deputy in the Kalamazoo County Jail for six years. Thomas Swafford says he’s running to fix what he calls “morale” problems within the department. However, Fuller says Swafford hasn’t discussed those concerns with him.

Thomas_Swafford-Web.mp3
Interview with Democratic primary candidate Thomas Swafford

Swafford says the Sheriff’s Department needs to improve its interactions with all parts of the community. And he has ideas about how to do that.

"Having the deputies stopping by the schools; having school liaisons; by talking with business owners; and having our deputies receiving even more training on how to communicate better with folks, to become more "real" to them instead of robotic. Especially on a traffic stop you'd want them to be more real: 'Listen sir, I see that you were speeding today; was there a problem, an emergency that you're going to.' Just be more communicative with the folks in general."

In November, the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary will face one of the two Republicans running for sheriff.

Jeff Heppler has been the chief of police for the City of Galesburg and the Village of Augusta for 35 years. And for the last 11 years, he’s served on the Kalamazoo County Commission, where he’s currently vice-chairman. Heppler also says police agencies in the county have good relationships with most residents. And he says there are resources to deal with any problems.

Jeff_Heppler-Web.mp3
Interview with Republican primary candidate Jeff Heppler

"With partnerships already put in place for many, many, many years with the NAACP and many of the other churches that are in the area, we can call upon those people to come forth and work with us to share with the community that these things need to be worked out in a rational, proper manner, not just taken to pandemonium and disarray. That doesn't accomplish what they want to see and doesn't accomplish what needs to be done as a country."

The other Republican in the race for sheriff describes himself as a “workaholic.” Robert Munn (who does not have a campaign website) has been a cook, armored car driver, and casino security guard. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2004. Munn says the Sheriff’s Department in Kalamazoo County needs to change the way in interacts with the public.

Robert_Munn-Web.mp3
Interview with Republican primary candidate Robert Munn

"I grew up, you know, respecting law enforcement. And they have to come to where they're going to have to be not so gung-ho, as you would say, when they do a pull- over and be cautious as well. Some of it is attitude versus the training."

The winners of the primaries August 2 will face off in the General Election in November. The Kalamazoo League of Women Voters has a voter guide for these and other primary races in Kalamazoo County.

You can stay in touch with WMUK news on Facebook, Twitter,and by signing up for our eNewsletter.

Andy Robins has been WMUK's News Director since 1998 and a broadcast journalist for over 24 years. He joined WMUK's staff in 1985. Under his direction, WMUK has received numerous awards for news reporting.
Related Content