A nearly-20 year veteran of the Keego Harbor Police Department was recently named its Chief of Police.
Robert Barnes, who most recently served as the department’s primary detective, was appointed to chief by a unanimous vote of the Keego Harbor city council. Barnes was officially sworn in on Aug. 15.
The position became available with the retirement of John Fitzgerald.
“We are confident that the City of Keego Harbor Police Department will continue to provide the same level of outstanding public safety and service that our residents deserve under Chief Barnes’ leadership,” said Mayor Rob Kalman.
Barnes began his law enforcement career with the City of Keego Harbor in 2005; promotions followed in 2012 and 2016 — when he completed detective school. As stated in a news release from the city, Barnes “has achieved a highly successful rate of warrant authorizations and criminal convictions through numerous investigations including armed robbery, sexual assaults, attempted homicides, child abuse, breaking and entering fraud and embezzlements.”
He’s also the department’s firearm and taser instructor, agency administrator and property/evidence manager.
However, the department’s police services may be in jeopardy if voters don’t approve a police millage renewal extension on the Nov. 5 ballot. The four-mill extension is expected to bring in approximately $450,000 tax dollars to fund the city’s allotted police budget of $1,072,581 for the next fiscal year. The remainder would come from the city’s general fund.
The millage extension is needed for a full-time dedicated police department, officials said. Contracted police services could mean higher costs and reduced police coverage and response times, officials said.
The current budget pays for a full-time chief, three full-time officers and a full-time detective. It also funds increased training, existing contracted police services, police cruisers, increased resources for other equipment and technology replacement and new water rescue capabilities.
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