Saginaw County commissioners voted to enter an executive session after Sergeant Matt Schofield presented a grievance alleging evidence fabrication and other misconduct connected to the sheriff's office.

Schofield told the commissioners the grievance grew from an internal harassment complaint by three deputies and said portions of the sheriff's office file contain fabrications. "Is it okay for a police officer to plant just a little bit of evidence?" he asked the panel. Schofield told the commissioners he has compiled a lengthy record and said, "I'm at 37 pages now, in a complaint against attorney Anne Freeman." He said more transcriptions and materials remain to be added.

County staff cautioned the panel that allegations of wrongdoing by people other than the grievant must be handled in closed session. A staff member said the sheriff "has the right to invoke executive session" when complaints allege misconduct by the sheriff or other employees. One commissioner objected to any framing that would predetermine the board's response, saying, "I don't like to hear your grievance characterized as once we hear this, we're gonna agree with you."

After discussion about whether the grievance could be handled in public without repeating allegations against others, commissioners made and seconded motions to move into executive session for personnel matters pursuant to the statutory citation read into the record. The clerk recorded a verbal "Aye" and the body returned to closed session.

The public record provided in the meeting excerpt does not show a final public decision on the grievance or any vote tally beyond the verbal agreement to enter executive session. Commissioners discussed that if Schofield's defense raised allegations of misconduct by others, those claims "have to be heard in executive session," and that inadvertently airing such claims in public could not be undone.

The meeting excerpt included repeated references to possible further steps, including Schofield's statement that the evidence he planned to present might prompt commissioners to consider petitioning the governor regarding the sheriff. Commissioners affirmed they would remain objective and not be led to a predetermined action. No formal petition, removal, or other enforcement action was taken on the public record in the provided transcript.