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The Joe Vozar for Sheriff Campaign Platform







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"I'm running to continue to bring the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office into the modern age, provide transparency, and enhance the professional and personal lives of my fellow officers." - Joe Vozar

"I think the community really wants the Sheriff's Office to be there for them when they call." -Joe Vozar

"They're looking for fair honest officers with good communication skills and empathy." Joe Vozar

Community Engagement

Law enforcement's engagement with the community fosters trust, unity, and safety. By partnering with residents, businesses, and organizations to educate, law enforcement can address local concerns effectively, proactively preventing crime and promoting a harmonious environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and protected. Community is who I am and will continue if elected Sheriff.

Transparency

Continued investment in modernizing the Sheriff's Office and strengthening channels of communication and transparency with the community is key to promoting fairness and justice. Openness in operations builds bridges between law enforcement and the community, fostering cooperation and collaboration. By embracing transparency, the campaign aims to strengthen the relationship between the sheriff's office and the public, promoting a culture of honesty, integrity, and shared responsibility in ensuring justice and safety for all.

Accountability

The Vozar for Sheriff campaign prioritizes accountability in law enforcement for trust and justice. Continued training and resources for officers  fosters integrity and professionalism. Continued investment in the latest best practices in operations builds public confidence and strengthens the bond between law enforcement and the community, ensuring ethical and effective service for all.

About Joe

A Proven Leader With A Proven Work Ethic

Joe Vozar is a native of Gratiot County, MI and career law enforcement officer. A married father of four, Vozar resides in Ithaca, MI and currently serves as Lieutenant and Jail Administrator.

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A 2001 graduate of Ithaca High School, in 2007 he began his work in law enforcement as a corrections officer in Isabella County. During his career at Isabella County, he was a trainer, instructor, Transport Officer, classification officer, Union VP, and dead deer pick-up crew. Teamed with the Jail Administrator in MDOC inspections and was in charge of fire safety and training. He  was a Marine Patrol officer and later on was in charge of the boat maintenance, scheduling and leasing equipment.  Over the course of his career, Vozar has had many opportunities to manage staff while juggling multiple priorities, including high-stress situations, and has sought out training opportunities for both himself and the department. 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. He is one of only three Jail Administrators on the Michigan Sheriff Association Corrections Committee, and leads the Marine Patrol program of Gratiot County. The statewide committee work, he believes, allows him to see the inner workings of a variety of Sheriff's Office's and apply best practices within his teams.

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Joe has been a career-long trainer and advocate for continued education and development of the department. He teaches Defensive Tactics including PPCT and Krav MAGA, and has been an instructor at both Delta College and Kirkland Academy and in addition he teaches case law based in Road Patrol and Corrections for use of force and proper written reports. 

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My Approach
Flower blooming in Gratiot County

About Joe Continued

Committed to Community Engagement

Joe is committed to law enforcement officers being visible and available to the community, and is deeply involved in local organizations. For years Lieutenant Vozar has coached youth baseball, football, and wrestling and volunteered for many committees, including the Rural Urban Day Committee, the Pheasants Forever Committee, the Ducks Unlimited Committee, and organizes the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office Youth Golf Outing each year. He believes 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, have better prepare him for the role of sheriff.

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“I think it’s about knowing the citizens of Gratiot County and knowing what Gratiot County is about,” Vozar says. “That means understanding the community from the rural area to the villages to the cities.”

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A Listing of Joe Vozar's Community Service & Engagements

  • MMRMA Corrections Advisory Committee Chair

  • Michigan Sheriff’s Coordinating & Training Council Advisory Board Member

  • Hope Not Handcuffs Committee Member

  • Michigan Sheriff Association Jail Administrator Conference Committee Chair

  • Command Officer Association of Michigan Vice President of Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office

  • American Jail Association member

  • Rural Urban Day Committee

  • Shop with a Hero Volunteer

  • GESA Ithaca Fire Department

  • Ithaca Area Historical Society Officer/Member

  • NFPA Fire Inspector School

  • Arts United with Gratiot and Isabella County United Way

  • Alma Highland Festival Dance Announcer

  • Involvement with Gratiot County Youth including: 

    • Ithaca Varsity Football

    • Youth Baseball Coach

    • Youth Football Coach

    • Youth Wrestling Coach

    • Ithaca High School Mock Interview Volunteer

    • Ithaca North Elementary Hero Volunteer

  • Conservation Organizations including: 

    • Ducks Unlimited Committee

    • Pheasants Forever Committee

  • Sheriff’ Office certifications and responsibilities:

    • Jail Administrator/ LT since May of 2018

    • Certified 160-hr Local Corrections Officer Academy

    • Marine Patrol Supervisor

    • Michigan Jail Command Staff Academy

    • Michigan Jail First Line Supervisor Academy

    • Multiple Supervision Trainings

    • Multiple Legal Update Trainings

    • Mission Team Investigator of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association

    • Medical Examiner Investigator

  • Instructor of Use of Force including Case Law & Defensive Tactics for the county and formerly

    • Delta College 

    • Kirtland Community College

  • Grants written at multiple agencies from MMRMA, GCCF and Meijer

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