Letter To The Editor: Former Undersheriff Boyd, ‘I Do Not Support Pat Hedlund’

Letter To The Editor: Former Undersheriff Boyd, ‘I Do Not Support Pat Hedlund’
Date:7/27/16

To the People of Newaygo County,

As you may or may not know, I had worked for the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office since 1989.  I resigned, not retired, on May 31st after serving as your Undersheriff for the last 11 years.  I have tried to stay out of the politics after my resignation, as that was the major cause of my decision to resign from the sheriff’s office.  It has come to my attention...

 ...that the current Sheriff has decided to use a letter of support that I had drafted (after he asked me to write a letter of support for him) while I was still employed as his subordinate.   He had asked me to attend his fundraiser and when I told him I couldn’t, he asked me to write a letter of support for him and that it would just be read at his fundraiser and I would be “off the hook”.   I did not feel comfortable writing this letter, but as he was my supervisor, I felt I was obligated.

After drafting the letter, I gave it to the Sheriff.  He thanked me and I went back to my office.  A short time later, he came into my office and said that he had talked to his campaign people and they wanted me to add to the letter that “he was the best man for the job.”  I told Pat those were not my words.   I was angry.  I sat at my computer and asked him, “What exactly do you want me to write?”  He then told me and I typed.  I was sick over it.  In all my years of law enforcement, I had never felt like I had betrayed my character until then.  I went home that day and spoke with family and concluded that I could no longer work under the current Sheriff.  

I have tried to stay out of the politics, but now Pat and/or his campaign committee is using this letter and my reputation to convince people that I am supporting him.  I want this to be VERY CLEAR to everyone: I do NOT support Pat Hedlund.  

Please vote for Bob Mendham on August 2nd.

Sincerely,

Former Undersheriff Brian Boyd