"I've committed no crime, absolutely no crime has been committed here," said Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand.
25 years of service to the Jackson County community, and a three time re-elect for sheriff, Sheriff Rand was stripped of his benefits Tuesday by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
FOX 47's Alani Letang was the only reporter to sit down and speak with the sheriff just a short time after the Jackson County Board of Commissioners passed a unanimous vote to remove his work benefits.
Regardless of the vote, the sheriff isn't packing his stuff up just yet. The Board of Commissioners gave the sheriff until 8 AM Tuesday, May 1st to resign or risk losing almost all his benefits. He told Letang he won't resign and he'll wait to see what happens when Governor Rick Snyder's staff finishes reviewing the county's request to remove him from office."
"To me, it's an overreach and for them to preempt that process or undermine that process by trying to force me out by political motivation, is improper," said Sheriff Rand.
The sheriff has apologized and taken responsibility for racial and sexual comment's he's made, on audio records released in February as part of a lawsuit against him.
"I can't condone that, I don't condone that. I've apologized for that and I'll apologize again," said the sheriff.
But that hasn't stopped County Commissioners fromt trying to force him out of office. The sheriff told Letang he wants to explain himself in court when the lawsuit accusing him of mocking Lieutenant Tommy Shuette's disability goes to trial.
"By exercising my due process rights, I feel that I'll be vindicated for a lot of these matters," said Rand.
Rand said he wants to clear the air but at this time can't fully explain why he didn't retire in March after paying more than $15,000 to buy time towards a full pension. That's what's called a "Universial Service Credit." He only said it was because of his right to exercise due process why he didn't retire then. He told Letang he's confident he can still lead the county.
"I am, I am, it's going to take some time but I am confident I am able to do that and I look forward to continuing on as sheriff at least until I've had my day in court."
An allegation that Sheriff Rand wanted to address with Letang was that his vehicle was allegedly paid out of the county jail's commissary account. Rand told Letang that allegation is false and that his vehicle and some of the other deputies vehicle's are used to respond to emergencies 24/7.
Rand explained, "we've handed over three years worth of records that clearly indicate that is absolutely not the case. That car was purchased through county policy, through the county general fund. It's not for personal use it's for my duties as sheriff."
Sheriff Rand has completed some of his diversity training and has more coming up. He told us it's going well, and we will continue to work on healing the community as best he can.
Because the sheriff is elected, only a resignation, recall or the governor can remove him from his position. The Michigan Attorney General's Office is reviewing a request for Governor Rick Snyder to expel him.
We will continue to follow this story and bring you the very latest right here on FOX 47 or the FOX 47 app.
