UNDATED (WHTC) – The transition of the Lakeshore’s top two elected law enforcement officers continues.
Steve Kempker was sworn in yesterday as Ottawa County Sheriff after being elected without opposition last month. Kempker began as a Holland Police Officer in 1980 and joined the sheriff’s department nine years later, rising to the rank of Undersheriff two years ago. “My heart is in Ottawa County,” he told WHTC News. “My committment is to the citizens of Ottawa County, to the victims of crime, to our communities and to our partners, to our local law enforcement and fire services, and to our employees in the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. I look to continue moving this agency forward.”
Kempker succeeds Gary Rosema, who is retiring after 23 years as Sheriff, with Valerie Weiss taking over as Undersheriff.
Also last month, Frank Baker won election as Allegan County Sheriff, replacing Blaine Koops, who is also retiring from that post, and Baker says that he will continue Koops’ tradition of focusing the department on community service. “Your law enforcement agency is a reflection of the community,” he explained to WHTC News. “You have to have similar values, similar goals and objectives. Without the support of the community, it’s really impossible for a law enforcement agency to be successful.”
A ceremony to swear in Baker and Robert Kengis, who succeeds Fred Anderson as County Prosecutor, is this afternoon at the Allegan County Courthouse.
