Barry County prosecutor’s office praises senior trial attorney Chris after 18 years; open house planned

Barry County — County prosecutors and commissioners publicly thanked a senior trial attorney known in the meeting as Chris for 18 years of service to Barry County during the Jan. 28 Board of Commissioners meeting. Chris has accepted a position with Kalamazoo County and will depart the Barry County prosecutor’s office later in the week, staff said.

Julie (identified in the transcript as leading the prosecutor’s remarks) — who the transcript shows as the county prosecutor — praised Chris’s long service and broad experience, noting work on misdemeanors through homicide cases, forfeiture matters and appellate work. "Chris has been with the county 18 years. He's a senior trial attorney... He's been our champion on new laws... Chris has really really made a mark in this county," Julie said.

Julie told the board Chris served as the county’s forfeiture attorney, worked on the Southwest Michigan enforcement team and handled appeals and complex, legally tangled matters. She also described him as a strong advocate for victims and said he was respected by law enforcement: "One of the probably highest compliments that Chris gets from law enforcement is when they walk into his office and say, 'Chris, can you tell me about law such and such?'", she said.

Chris said in his remarks that he appreciated the opportunity to work in Barry County for 18 years and invited people to an office open house from 2 to 4:30 p.m. "Thank you for giving me the privilege of working here for 18 years. It's been an honor and I will miss everybody here," he said.

Chief Assistant Dave Bannister was named by Julie as her chief assistant; Julie said staff had tried to persuade Chris to stay but that he had "very viable reasons for taking this job in Kalamazoo County."

Ending: Commissioners and staff expressed appreciation and best wishes; an open house was scheduled at the prosecutor’s office for colleagues and the public to say farewell.