Sheriff presents 2024 year-end report, highlights staffing, equipment and program activity

Sheriff Schutte presented the Jackson County Sheriff's Office 2024 year-end report, outlining staffing changes, equipment purchases, community outreach and major incidents. The committee voted to receive the report unanimously.

Schutte said the department added seven road patrol deputies, three corrections deputies and two casual deputies in 2024. He said six of the seven road deputies were trained through the department’s own police academy and noted one new hire (Tom Brower) was a recently retired officer who did not require internal academy training. Schutte described training and equipment updates that included an outdoor shooting range used for qualifications and the purchase of “e-gloves” for selected jail staff; he said each pair costs about $4,000 and are used by select personnel during difficult inmate interactions. He also described a remote-controlled ankle device used in court security to avoid visible restraints in the courtroom.

On community programs, Schutte highlighted a detention commissary fund (which he said is under regulatory scrutiny related to communications rules), the department’s volunteer Scribe/Strive teams, the sheriff’s open house, a candlelight vigil and distribution of 28 car seats last year to families in need. He also reported continued participation in drug and violence summits and an adult treatment court in which Captain Stewart participates.

Major incidents and investigations noted included three homicides in 2024 (one open felony murder charge for a suspect in the fatal shooting of McDivitt), a husband–wife murder-suicide in Summit Township, and a hit-and-run that the sheriff said remains under investigation. Schutte said four pursuits were recorded and seven fatal accidents. He also outlined operations targeting prostitution and human trafficking in coordination with state task forces, noting seven arrests in 2024 from those operations.

Corrections statistics showed about 4,200 bookings and roughly 337,000 meals served; Schutte said staff-on-assaults increased slightly to 16 from 14 the prior year, and there were four suicide attempts and one successful suicide in custody. He said Narcan was used multiple times to save inmates. He reported four school resource deputies assigned across several districts, an active explorer program and volunteer dive and marine patrol teams.

Committee members asked about staffing levels and overnight patrol coverage. Schutte said all 19 contracted deputies were filled and that overall the department has 35 patrol positions filled, though five were in training or academy phases and therefore not yet counted for full duty; the corrections unit had four open positions at the time of the report. He described a strategy for managing low overnight staffing that includes doubled-up cars and collaboration with Michigan State Police for additional trooper coverage during low-manpower periods. Schutte said he had reached out to several townships about new contracts but that only Summit provides 24-hour contracted service.

The committee moved to receive the report; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: The committee received the sheriff’s report and asked to be updated if additional townships express interest in contract services.