ISHPEMING TOWNSHIP, MI-- Ishpeming Township’s only police officer has submitted his resignation.
Robert O’Connor posted a message on Facebook Monday night indicating he was leaving his position and had notified the Township Board of his decision on August 27. His last day will be October 3, having served a little less than a year.
O’Connor cites three factors for his resignation:
1) Constant conflict with Township Supervisor James Nankervis
2) Apparent lack of trust, respect and support from the Supervisor
3) Suspicion that the millage for police protection recently passed was a fraud
In his message O’Connor states, “I also did not want to be anywhere near the center of what I believe is severe mismanagement of taxpayer monies.” He says he chose to resign rather than address the issues directly and make an already stressful working environment worse.
O’Connor also served as a trooper at the Michigan State Police Post in Negaunee for nearly 25 years.
He says he will use his remaining time to complete all reports and take care of any other administrative tasks so nothing is left unattended for the next officer.
O’Connor has not responded to a message left at the police station.
From Facebook:
ANNOUNCEMENT
I apologize to you all for not mentioning something sooner, but what has happened has been difficult for me to fully accept. On August 27th, I submitted my resignation to the Township Board....my last day will be October 3rd of this year. I will use the remaining time here to make sure all investigate reports get completed, and take care of any other administrative tasks so there is no unattended business for the next officer to deal with.
I want you all to know how much I appreciated the warm welcome when I first started here last October, and the constant support I received since my first day on patrol. Having worked as a Trooper in Marquette County for just shy of 25 years, and as your police officer for nearly a full year, I can say that Ishpeming Township was by far the best area I've had the privilege to work in. It was a pleasure to serve you each and every day. No other community I've ever worked in was as welcoming and supportive toward the police as this one. I can't tell you how much that means to an officer in this day and age, and I thank you all for that.
Without going into great detail, my decision to resign was based upon three major factors:
1. Constant conflict with the Township Supervisor.
2. Apparent lack of trust, respect and support from the Supervisor.
3. Suspicion that the millage for police protection was a fraud.
Rather than address these issues directly, I chose to resign. I did not wish to make the already stressful working environment any worse. I also did not want to be anywhere near the center of what I believe is severe mismanagement of taxpayer monies.
I know that the State Troopers and Sheriff's Deputies will do their best to take care of you all in the absence of having your own police officer. And I hope that once everything is sorted out, the Township will hire another officer who cared as much about you and the job as I did.
Take care everyone, and thank you again.
Officer O'Connor
