Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido and Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini, in partnership with the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, joined forces this week to hold a training session for law enforcement, municipal clerks and election staff from every community in the county.
The session was inspired by training the State of Georgia provides to every law enforcement agency and is similar to training the Secretary of State promoted in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Traverse City and Marquette, Lucido said.
The training was the first time the county prosecutor’s office and the county clerk coordinated training specifically about election laws, including preventing, recognizing and prosecuting potential election day crimes.
Table top exercises were conducted, where local elections officials and local law enforcement talked through various real world scenarios with city and township clerks and focused on how to address and resolve potential election day issues.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote in a safe and secure environment, free from intimidation or harassment,”?Lucido said. “Every election administrator and poll worker should be able to do their job without fear.
“The goal of this training is to help ensure the highest level of safety and service is provided to those at the polls as we work together to safeguard our most sacred duty as Americans.”
Election integrity, Forlini said, “is a defining cornerstone of our election system and we are committed to making sure our election laws are respected and followed.
“I believe in the integrity of our election process. Helping elections officials and law enforcement to improve communication and be better prepared is another level of protection in making sure our elections are defended and protected,”
Trainers included:
• Chris Harvey, deputy executive director at Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. Harvey has worked in homicide in metro-Atlanta, was Georgia’s State Election Director, and is a member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE).
• Tina Barton, vice chair of the CSSE, a senior election expert, who administered elections in Bloomfield Township and Rochester Hills. Barton has over 32 years of government experience, the last 17 of which have been focused on election administration.
• Captain Harold Love, Michigan State Police (Ret.), Owner and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Harold J. Love & Associates. Harold Love served 25 years with the Michigan State Police (MSP), before retiring as a captain in 2013.
• Justin Smith, a former Sheriff of Larimer County, Colorado, with 35 years of law enforcement experience is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
“Law enforcement should not be at the center of the voting process, but given the nature of the political environment, law enforcement can and should be a part of the security plan necessary to keep voting accessible and free from interference and intimidation,” said Harvey. “Training and preparation are key in setting security goals”
Lucido stressed that his office will not tolerate any form of election crimes or voter intimidation, regardless of political affiliation.
“If anyone commits a crime, regardless of party affiliation, of ethnic intimidation, or any other violation to disrupt the election, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I also will not hesitate to refer a case to our Michigan Attorney General or the United States Attorney’s Office, and will fully cooperate with both regarding polling place safety,” he said.
The session was inspired by training the State of Georgia provides to every law enforcement agency and is similar to training the Secretary of State promoted in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Traverse City and Marquette, Lucido said.
The training was the first time the county prosecutor’s office and the county clerk coordinated training specifically about election laws, including preventing, recognizing and prosecuting potential election day crimes.
Table top exercises were conducted, where local elections officials and local law enforcement talked through various real world scenarios with city and township clerks and focused on how to address and resolve potential election day issues.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote in a safe and secure environment, free from intimidation or harassment,”?Lucido said. “Every election administrator and poll worker should be able to do their job without fear.
“The goal of this training is to help ensure the highest level of safety and service is provided to those at the polls as we work together to safeguard our most sacred duty as Americans.”
Election integrity, Forlini said, “is a defining cornerstone of our election system and we are committed to making sure our election laws are respected and followed.
“I believe in the integrity of our election process. Helping elections officials and law enforcement to improve communication and be better prepared is another level of protection in making sure our elections are defended and protected,”
Trainers included:
• Chris Harvey, deputy executive director at Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. Harvey has worked in homicide in metro-Atlanta, was Georgia’s State Election Director, and is a member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE).
• Tina Barton, vice chair of the CSSE, a senior election expert, who administered elections in Bloomfield Township and Rochester Hills. Barton has over 32 years of government experience, the last 17 of which have been focused on election administration.
• Captain Harold Love, Michigan State Police (Ret.), Owner and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Harold J. Love & Associates. Harold Love served 25 years with the Michigan State Police (MSP), before retiring as a captain in 2013.
• Justin Smith, a former Sheriff of Larimer County, Colorado, with 35 years of law enforcement experience is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
“Law enforcement should not be at the center of the voting process, but given the nature of the political environment, law enforcement can and should be a part of the security plan necessary to keep voting accessible and free from interference and intimidation,” said Harvey. “Training and preparation are key in setting security goals”
Lucido stressed that his office will not tolerate any form of election crimes or voter intimidation, regardless of political affiliation.
“If anyone commits a crime, regardless of party affiliation, of ethnic intimidation, or any other violation to disrupt the election, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I also will not hesitate to refer a case to our Michigan Attorney General or the United States Attorney’s Office, and will fully cooperate with both regarding polling place safety,” he said.
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