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Sheriff Kim Cole
On Friday, Feb. 7, at 9 a.m., Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole will host Coffee with Sheriff Kim Cole at State and Main Coffee Shop, 101 S. Main St. He will discuss his plan for patrols in Scottville and will also share information relevant to the sheriff’s office around the county.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — As the City of Scottville is preparing to close its police department, Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said the sheriff’s office will have a regular presence in the city. In an effort to counter a nearly $500,000 deficit to its general fund, the city commission voted earlier this month to eliminate its police department. Since that time, Interim City Manager Clarence Goodlein, Mason County Administrator Fabian Knizacky, and Sheriff Cole have been in conversations about law enforcement in Scottville.
“Road patrol sergeants have been instructed to have their crews make regular patrols through the streets of Scottville,” Cole said. “This will include traffic patrols.”
In 2024 the sheriff’s office responded to over 250 calls for service in the city. A call for service is typically a result of a 911 call. Many of those calls were criminal offenses that resulted in arrest. Cole said the sheriff’s office, however, has traditionally made routine patrols through Scottville.
To assist the sheriff’s office, the city is also offering its police station, located at city hall, as a satellite station for deputies.
“The Scottville station will be a great asset to our deputies,” Cole said. “Since the sheriff’s office is located in Ludington, it’s not always very efficient for the road patrol deputies who need to be on the other side of the county. This will give them a place in the center of the county to stop and work on reports and take necessary breaks as well.”
Additionally, the sheriff’s office plans to store its flat-bottom river boat in the police station’s garage.
“This will also bring that boat to a more centrally-located place in the county, just a few blocks from the Scottville boat launch for the Pere Marquette River,” Cole said. “That’s going to be a real plus for rescue efforts.”
Goodlein said efforts are underway to transfer police records and equipment to the sheriff’s office, which is expected to be completed sometime in the spring. He said no formal agreement for a dedicated deputy has been worked out yet. However, he added the city will likely be in a better financial state in 2026 to work out such a deal with the county.
Cole said besides efforts to increase the sheriff’s office’s presence in the city, a dedicated deputy is in the city every school day because there is a school resource officer (SRO) at Mason County Central. There is also a SRO at Mason County Eastern. Cole said those deputies are obligated to respond to emergency situations.
On Friday, Feb. 7, at 9 a.m., Cole will host Coffee with Sheriff Kim Cole at State and Main Coffee Shop, 101 S. Main St. He will discuss his plan for patrols in Scottville and will also share information relevant to the sheriff’s office around the county.
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