County Law Enforcement Agency
Appears in 5 stories
Proposing the millage renewal and increase
Kent County voters will decide in November whether to renew and increase the 36-year-old property tax that funds the county jail. The sheriff's office is asking for a 20-year extension at 0.98 mills, up from the current 0.7332 mills. For a home with $100,000 in taxable value, that adds about $24.68 per year, for a total of roughly $98.
Updated Sep 3
Advocating for Corrections and Detention Millage increase
Kent County's board approved a $696.6 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2027, lifting the General Fund 4.2 percent to $265.53 million without raising the property tax rate. Public safety gets the largest share, $143.5 million, including 42 new Sheriff's Office vehicles.
Lead agency in the investigation
A months-long investigation into meth and cocaine sales ended with two search warrants in Muskegon and three arrests. Detectives seized suspected heroin and fentanyl, meth, cocaine, amphetamine pills, five firearms, and more than $19,000 in cash.
Updated Sep 2
Leadership transition; Muir takes over Oct. 9, 2026
Bryan Muir will be Kent County's next sheriff. The county's sheriff appointment committee picked the 25-year office veteran unanimously on Aug. 19, and he takes over Oct. 9 when Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young retires.
Updated Aug 29
Investigating the crash
A 34-year-old Sparta man died early Friday when his motorcycle left Pine Island Drive and struck a utility pole in Plainfield Township, north of Grand Rapids. An off-duty police officer found the crash around 1 a.m.; the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
Updated Aug 28
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