Sheriff Bouchard Gets “Michigan Master Sheriff” Recognition
(Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, June 20, 2019)
Pontiac, MI- Recently, at the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) Summer Conference, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard was recognized by his peers as a ‘Michigan Master Sheriff’.
To be eligible for the Michigan Master Sheriff designation, a sitting Sheriff must meet certain criteria.
~The Master Sheriff candidate must have been elected and served a minimum of twelve years as Sheriff.
~The Sheriff must not have any high court misdemeanors or felony convictions and must possess a valid Michigan driver’s license.
~The Master candidate must have successfully completed either the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Basic Police Academy or the Michigan Sheriffs’ Coordinating and Training Council Basic Corrections Academy.
~The Master Sheriff candidate must also have continued his professional education through various ways, including advanced education degrees or specialized schooling. The Master Sheriff candidate will be considered if he/she has served in any branch of the military and has been honorably discharged.
~The Master Sheriff candidate must be a member in good standing with the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association.
Applications are reviewed each February by the MSA Board of Directors and voted on.
According to Blaine Koops, the Executive Director of MSA, “Sheriff Bouchard has always set the bar high for other Michigan Sheriff to follow. He is the consummate Michigan law enforcement professional and he serves the Oakland County community through his professional and personal values.”
Sheriff Bouchard’s professional and personal virtues were considered during the application process, such as the fact that Sheriff Bouchard has served 33 years as a law enforcement officer and an elected official and has served 20 years as the elected Sheriff of Oakland County. He serves on numerous Boards and Committees. Sheriff Bouchard is the past president of the Major County Sheriffs of America and currently serves as the Vice President – Government Affairs for the organization. In 2016, Sheriff Bouchard was honored as the National Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this designation from the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and am grateful to the Board of Directors who selected me in their process,” said Sheriff Bouchard. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Oakland County and will continue to push myself to ensure we have the best training and tools to protect our residents.”
Also recognized as Michigan Master Sheriffs were Emmet County Sheriff Peter Wallin and Mackinac County Sheriff Scott Strait.