Special Session Administrator Interviews (Public Comment – E. Carlson, 5/30/2024)

Executive Summary:

Introduction
– The document is a public comment letter addressed to Commissioner Rexroat of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners.
– The letter expresses concerns about the candidacy of James Kiessel for the position of Leelanau County Administrator.

Background on James Kiessel
– Kiessel has been employed as an Undersheriff in the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office for many years.
– In the past, Kiessel and another deputy were allegedly involved in incidents where they unlawfully entered homes without warrants and forced college-age students to submit to breathalyzer tests.
– These incidents led to an investigation by the ACLU of Michigan, which urged the sheriff’s office to implement training on constitutional limits of police searches.
– Kiessel and the other deputy were later fired by the sheriff for “extreme misconduct” in violating citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights, but were reinstated after the Police Officers Association of Michigan threatened legal action.
– Kiessel and other deputies also filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff, alleging illegal eavesdropping, which was settled years later.

Conclusion
– The author urges the County Board of Commissioners to carefully consider Kiessel’s candidacy for the county administrator position given his past history of misconduct.

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-urges-leelanau-county-sheriff-institute-training-program-deputies-about
https://casetext.com/case/hameline-v-wright
https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/newsmakers-leelanau-county-settles-lawsuit-with-fired-deputies/article_1b74bd12-7cd1-57df-84c2-5d9c7a7d33d9.html