Kalkaska Police Chief and Village Manager Aaron Popa has been fired, according to Jeff Sieting, who is now sharing village manager duties.
Popa was investigated by MSP after village leaders declined to have local departments investigate its chief and manager, Kalkaska County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Ziegler said on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Ziegler said he didn't want the public to think his personal relationship with Popa would impact his decisions so he referred the report to the Attorney General who will "...assign a different county prosecutor to the investigation," he said.
Attorney General Dana Nessel's office on Wednesday did not immediately respond to questions about the status of finding a new prosecutor to charge Popa, among other things.
Officials
have not said what prompted the investigation. Media reports sayit stemmed from an interaction with a resident.
MSP spokesperson Ashley Miller confirmed investigation into Popa via email on Wednesday, Sept. 2, but did not provide details.
Responsibilities of the city manager are being split between Sieting, who is a county commissioner; the village's assistant manager, Faith Ramsey; and Clerk Angie Koon. Police chief responsibilities will fall to Lt. Bill Robins.
Kalkaska is the seat of Kalkaska County in northwest Michigan.
The Traverse City Record Eagle reported Popa was suspended Aug. 18.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kalkaska manager, police chief fired amid state investigation
