HOLLAND (WHTC) — Allegan County Undersheriff Frank Baker announced Friday he’ll campaign for Sheriff this year.
His boss, Allegan Sheriff Blaine Koops, announced yesterday he’ll retire at the end of this year.
Baker told WHTC he made the decision after being encouraged to run by those he respects, including his wife of 30 years, Cindy Baker, fellow officers and area leaders. Such support is humbling, he said.
A police officer for nearly 30 years, Baker has worked his way up the Allegan County Sheriff’s ladder over 25 years, from deputy to detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain, as well as serving as interim jail commander. He was named Undersheriff one year ago.
His priorities include reducing domestic violence and increasing community involvement.
Baker is a former board member for the domestic violence shelter Sylvia’s Place and currently serves on boards for the Allegan General Hospital Foundation; Allegan County Legal Assistance Center; and, for nearly 14 years, the Allegan County Children’s Advocacy Center.
Koops told WHTC Thursday he would endorse Baker to be his successor.
Baker said he valued Koops’ drive to raise the professional bar for deputies — Baker completed a four-year degree, emphasizing criminal justice and sociology.
“Having a good understanding of community and the role that society plays in what we do as law-enforcement officers has been very beneficial,” he said.
Jail, he said, is a possible solution to some problems, because it’s a place where people can get educated (GED), substance abuse counseling and develop life skills to give them a chance to return to society “in a better shape than what the were when they came in,” he said. Alternatively, community service programs could help others develop skills and self esteem without spending time behind bars.
He described the current Allegan County Sheriff’s staff as “predominantly white male” and said body cameras and other technology is being explored at this time.
“When we have that data subject to FOIA, how do we have that reviewed? How do we supply that back to the requester?” he said. “Those are big issues that are really, for us, as big if not bigger than the actual obtaining of the equipment to do the recording.”
Cindy Baker serves on the Allegan County Community Foudation and works for Grand Rapids-based recovery audit accounting firm. The Baker’s son, Kyle, is married to Deanna; he is a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant and she is a federal credit union financial center manager. Kyle and Deanna Baker are stationed in South Carolina. Frank and Cindy Baker’s daughter, Shelby, is a Loyola University Chicago graduate currently working for a Detroit-area tier-one automotive supplier as a sales and marketing coordinator.
— Peg McNichol
