By William Meiners
Herald Staff Writer
On the heels of an announcement by Gratiot County Sheriff Mike Morris that he will not be seeking another term in office, Joe Vozar, current lieutenant and jail administrator, declared last week his intention to run for the position.
The first person to announce a candidacy, Vozar will run as a Republican in the August primary.
An Ithaca native, Vozar told The Herald that he enjoys his current administrative position but would like to use his training and experience to give back to the department and its officers, as well as his community. He said he would like to continue to bring the Sheriff’s Office into the modern age, provide transparency, and enhance the professional and personal lives of his fellow officers.
On the crime front, Vozar said he intends “to fight larceny and breaking and entering crimes” by informing the public on what to look for, how to keep their belongings safe, and help prevent the elderly from being scammed. “That’s where transparency and constant educating of the public comes in.”
One way of being transparent is to be known as something more than just a police officer. For years Vozar has coached youth baseball, football, and wrestling. He’s volunteered for many committees, including the Rural Urban Day Committee, the Pheasants Forever Committee, the Ducks Unlimited Committee, and more.
“I also run the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office Youth Golf Outing,” he said. “I’ve helped make that into one of the biggest golf events in the county.”
In his day job, Vozar has served on an advisory committee for the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority and the Michigan Sheriff Coordinating and Training Council, for which he is the only jail administrator in the state in that particular role. The statewide committee work, he said, allows him to see the inner workings of a variety of police departments.
“I would say 90 percent of my career has involved training,” said Vozar who joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2018.
From his training role within the office to an expanded role as an elected official, Vozar seems to embrace the idea that law enforcement officers protect and serve.
“I think the community really wants the Sheriff’s Office to be there for them when they call,” he said. “They’re looking for fair and honest officers with good communication skills and empathy.”
Most every community has crime. Vozar said illegal drug use and domestic violence may be more prevalent in Gratiot County than other crimes. When officers respond “call to call” that pulls them away from basic traffic coverage. On that front, he said those traffic stops can be educational, as well. Rather than just pass out speeding tickets, it’s important to remind drivers the basic rules of the road.
Growing up, Vozar, now 41 years old and a married father of four, thought he might like to be a canine officer. Ironically, while working at a body shop in the 1990s, he helped install the first canine unit into a Gratiot County police car. A 2001 graduate of Ithaca High School, he would later begin his work in law enforcement as a corrections officer in Isabella County.
Over the course of his career, Vozar said he’s had many opportunities to manage staff while juggling multiple priorities that could include high-stress situations. He has also learned that the many community activities, from dancing with his wife Bethany in last year’s Arts United event to their annual presence at the Alma Highland Festival, could better prepare him for the role of sheriff.
“I think it’s about knowing the citizens of Gratiot County and knowing what Gratiot County is about,” Vozar said. “That means understanding the community from the rural area to the villages to the cities.”
Morris, who replaced Doug Wright as sheriff in May 2019 and officially elected to the four-year term the following November, said in a press release his last day will be Dec. 31.