ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – While the Zeeland City Council makes up its mind about the direction of police services in its community, two men are expected to take over the interim reins of the police department.
During this evening’s meeting, Mayor Kevin Klynstra is slated to appoint, with Council’s blessing, Sergeant Tom Ball as Interim Police Chief for Administrative Services and Corporal Kevin Cisler as Interim Police Chief for Operational Services. City Manager Tim Klunder, in his memo to Council ahead of the meeting, said that this dual role “will utilize their respective strengths and will enable the Zeeland Police Department to continue to operate on an effective level while the Police Services Review Committee completes its work.” If approved by Council, these appointments would take effect on October 26th.
Chief Bill Olney had announced earlier this summer his intention to retire on July 14th; he agreed to remain on board through October 27th while the city considered whether to appoint a permanent replacement, reorganize the department or contract with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department to handling policing in Zeeland. That decision has not yet been made, with a special Council work/study session to receive a progress report from the Police Services Review Committee next Monday evening, and a public information session on this topic slated for November 1st at the Howard Miller Community Center.
