Around Michigan & State Government

Lieutenant files federal lawsuit against Jackson County sheriff, calling him a “multi-faceted bigot”

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published February 21, 2018 at 4:12 PM EST

Schuette said that he and others in the office suffered mocking and inappropriate behavior from Rand, whom he described as a "bully."

Stateside's conversation with Tommy Schuette, a lieutenant in the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

This month a lot of people in Jackson County were shocked by accusations that their sheriff, Steven Rand, is a “multi-faceted bigot.” That was among a number of complaints in a federal lawsuitfiled against the sheriff.

The Sheriff has apologized for his comments, but yesterday the Jackson County Board called for his resignation and added that if he doesn’t resign, then the governor should remove him.

The man who filed that lawsuit is Tommy Schuette, a lieutenant in the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. He joined Stateside today.

Listen above. You'll hearSchuettedescribe the pattern of behavior he observed from Sheriff Rand in the workplace, the steps he took to have Rand's behavior addressed, and why he thinks his current actions are necessary.

Read the full complaint in Schuette v. Jackson County here.

Sheriff Rand's office did not immediately respond to Stateside's interview request. On behalf of Jackson County Administrator Michael Overton and Human Resources Director Richard Martonchik, an attorney representing the county emailed Stateside a media statement dated Feb. 13. You can read that statement here.

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