Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake lieutenant announces run for Lapeer County sheriff

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

SYLVAN LAKE — A top member of the Sylvan Lake Police Department hopes there will be a new sheriff in town in Lapeer County.

According to a press release, Sylvan Lake’s Lt. Jeff Fick announced Jan. 19 that he plans to run for sheriff in Lapeer County. Fick said he needs to collect approximately 400 signatures from registered county voters to appear on the ballot.

Fick, 37, of Oregon Township, said he has lived in the county for three decades, and this is his first time running for public office.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” he said. “I’m running against a 32-year incumbent in a Republican county as a Democrat. … There’s going to be a lot to learn, but I enjoy the competition.”

Lapeer County’s current sheriff is Ron Kalanquin. Fick said he is keeping his own campaign platform tight right now until it gets closer to the election.

“In a nutshell, there are some things that have gone on in Lapeer County that I didn’t necessarily agree with,” he said. “I didn’t like the way that it was handled.”

Fick said he started his law enforcement career in 1998 and has worked for the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department and the Davison Township Police Department. He also worked at the Lapeer County Jail while finishing his time in the police academy.

He also lists being an honorably discharged veteran from the Marine Corps, where he served seven years as a firefighter, as an accomplishment. His education includes an associates degree in criminal justice from Mott Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University. He added that he is pursuing his MBA at Northwood, too.

As second-in-command behind Sylvan Lake Police Chief Mark Silver, Fick said he supervises 24 full-time, part-time and reserve officers.

He said his proudest accomplishment in the city was advancing from a part-time position to full time and then to his current rank as lieutenant.

During his time at Sylvan Lake, two lawsuits — one county, one federal — were filed against him in 2010 in response to arrests that he made. The federal case, which accused Fick of using excessive force, was settled and dismissed in 2011, and the county suit is still ongoing, he said.

He added that he is ready to stand behind his work and his career. “I can more than defend anything that I’ve done in Sylvan Lake,” he said.

Sylvan Lake Mayor Aron Lorenz praised Fick’s high aspirations and said he always thought that Fick would try to move his skills to a larger force.

“I wish him the best and hope that he runs a campaign that allows him to earn the opportunity to become the Lapeer County sheriff,” Lorenz said. “I’m not surprised that Jeff would choose to run for higher office, ­since he has shown a great deal of motivation in Sylvan Lake.”

Should Fick be elected to the position, he already knows what he’ll miss about Sylvan Lake. “I would say the residents,” he said. “There’s a lot of good people who live in that community.”

To learn more, visit www.FickForSheriff.com.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1058.