Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday approved an intergovernmental agreement with Schoolcraft College to provide police recruit academy training for Wayne County Sheriff Office recruits.

Anita Terry, chief of administration for the Wayne County Sheriffs Office, told the committee the contract covers the period "from 07/18/2025 through 09/30/2026" and is retroactive to begin July 1 to align with quoted tuition rates. She said the agreement covered a prior class of seven recruits and an upcoming winter semester that will add 12 recruits, for a total of up to 19 recruits over two sessions.

Chief Robert Dunlap, who oversees jails and courts for the sheriff's office, addressed union concerns about past training cohorts. "There never ever been a written report of anything improper," Dunlap said, characterizing the concerns as "word-of-mouth" and promising review and oversight. He said the office is planning to expand recruitment and ultimately hopes to run an in-house academy but that the department is not yet at that capacity.

Commissioners asked about fairness and dismissal procedures for recruits. Commissioner Peterson Mayberry asked about recruits who had been dismissed and whether the process is "fair, decent, and in order." Dunlap said trainees have contractual rights to union representation during interviews that could lead to discipline and that past dismissals were tied to failure to meet rules and requirements, not to documented mistreatment.

The committee also discussed training costs; Terry said vehicle operating charges used by the college rose from $100 to $150 per day and that the associate dean expected the rate to remain at the higher level for the next semester.

Commissioner Dobbs moved to approve the Schoolcraft College agreement; Commissioner Clemente seconded the motion and the clerk announced it carried. The motion carried and the contract was approved; the clerk recorded no roll-call tally in the transcript.