After six months on the job, Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand learns to slow ...
A few months ago, Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand walked down to the first floor of the sheriff’s office to find his staff re-arranging the furniture.
He wanted to get involved, offer suggestions and help. But he held back. He realized some decisions were better left off his desk.
Rand has learned two key lessons during his first six months in office: slow down and let go.
Unlike deputies on road patrol who must act quickly, relying on instincts and training, the sheriff has to focus on the bigger picture and set long-term strategy for the office.
“A lot of these things, the bigger things, don’t require immediate decision. It involves consultation with professionals and laying out a plan,” Rand said Monday. “It’s really how you need to operate.
“You need to get all the information and make the right decision.”
On May 4, a three-person panel of county officials appointed Rand to lead the sheriff’s office. Former Sheriff Dan Heyns took over the state Department of Corrections and left for Lansing.
Prosecutor Hank Zavislak, one of the three who appointed Rand, said Rand put together a strong command staff, promoting Chris Kuhl from captain to undersheriff, Brad Piros from lieutenant to captain and moving deputies and sergeants up in rank.
“He’s got vision,” Zavislak said of Rand. “He’s a real asset to the community.”
Rand said he has never worked harder than these past six months, learning much in the process. He has had to let go of the day-to-day responsibilities he had as a captain.
One of Rand’s “slow down” moments came when the jail housed an uncooperative and high-profile inmate. Leo Kwaske, accused of beheading his neighbor, Shirley Meeks, refused to eat, talk to or acknowledge the deputies charged with looking after him.
Given Kwaske’s history of psychiatric disorders, Rand called together mental health experts, the judge assigned to the case, attorneys and corrections officers to develop a plan. The result: The jail kept Kwaske healthy and safe until he was transferred to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Washtenaw County, which is better equipped to treat him.
Jackson Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer - News
He was unresponsive, with fixed and dilated pupils, and doctors quickly diagnosed a traumatic brain injury. Only a ventilator kept him alive. He never regained consciousness and died the next day. His name was Rocrast Mack. An Alabama prison inmate,
You have to pace yourself,” said Heins, who like Rand rose through the ranks to eventually head his department. “You can't do everything, and you think you can when you start.” Heins and Rand talk often. The two brainstorm ways to share resources and
He says Jackson was first introduced to the drug in 1984, after Jackson burned his head during a now-infamous Pepsi commercial shoot. In the book, an advanced copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press, Cascio claims Jackson took Propofol in
Former Prairie View head coach and now assistant Don King tried to recruit him. Pressing Trevor as to why he didn't want to play, Trevor replied, “For the love of baseball.” With his lineman's body, he climbed the ladder of a tree stand his dad had
He also had cuts and bruises from head to toe. The JFS records reviewed by Deters are not available to the public and therefore could not be inspected by The Enquirer. Records seen by The Enquirer do not show why the JFS workers changed their minds.
