Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit says he wasn’t sending a political message by taking part in a discussion on border security with other sheriffs and attending a rally for Donald Trump this month.
Heit was on stage with Trump at the April 2 event in Grand Rapids. At Thursday’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, there was public comment about that as two in the audience wondered if it was appropriate for the sheriff to take part in a rally while in uniform.
Heit said he was only there to talk about a serious issue, the border.
“We had a 45 minute roundtable discussion before the event that was put on there,” Heit said. “I guess what I would say as your sheriff, if I got the same invite from our current president that wanted to come to Michigan and meet with sheriffs, I would absolutely entertain that opportunity. I can’t fix the border. There is a crisis at the border. All I can do is talk to the people who may be in a position to do that.”
Heit said he’s seen an increase in fentanyl deaths in Berrien County, which is a legitimate public safety concern. He added as sheriff, he represents everyone regardless of their political leanings.
Also on hand for the April 2 event was Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott.
