Possible Investigation into Northern Michigan Law Enforcement Offices

Serious accusations tonight coming from the Presque Isle County Prosecutor involving a State police post, and the

Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department.

The Prosecutor believes the Alpena Post and the Sheriff’s Department should be investigated for corruption, among other things.

But police say they have nothing to hide.

“I think there has been a past history of officers burying matters that may involve other officers family and friends,” said Richard Steiger, Prosecuting Attorney.

Steiger wants the Department of Justice to investigate what he claims is corruption in the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan State Police Alpena Post.

“These are just a few individuals who hold positions of power and I believe have exploited that power and failed to uphold their constitutional obligation to hold themselves to the same standards as the citizens,” said Steiger.

“They are allegations I’m just saying.. I know he’s accusing us of cover ups and to cover something up you have to have something to hide. We’re not hiding anything there’s no cover up,” said Presque Isle County Sheriff, Robert Paschke.

And state police provided a statement saying Steiger’s claims are unsubstantiated, and welcoming an outside investigation to prove it.

Steiger says the Sheriff’s Department may have been involved in smuggling drugs into jail and tampering with evidence. All of which the Sheriff’s Department says is not true.

“We did an internal investigation we also had a team come in and they stated they could not prove or disprove of an allegation that’s two years old,” said Sheriff Paschke.

“My concern is there are reports being made concerning impropriety and illegal activity and it’s not being followed up with it’s being swept under the rug and hush hush and goes away,” said Steiger.

Steiger himself faced charges of prescription fraud in 2012. Those charges were dropped, and he says it may have been retaliation from police.

Now both police and the prosecutor hope an investigation is coming, each confident it will back them up.

“My hopes are the Department of Justice gets involved and look into it, and whatever their decision is, at least I’ve done my job,” said Steiger.

“Our books are open come and look at them,” said Paschke.