Former DeWitt police officer pleads to willful neglect of duty, aggravated assault for off-duty altercation

Last Thursday, Chad Vorce, 45, a former City of DeWitt police officer of DeWitt Township, pled no contest to 2 misdemeanor offenses, Public Officer – Willful Neglect of Duty and Aggravated Assault, before the Honorable Judge Cori E. Barkman from the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County.

On January 14, 2021, shortly after 7 a.m., Vorce twice drew his firearm while off duty - and outside of his jurisdiction - after approaching a van he described as driving erratically in his neighborhood. The driver of the van was delivering newspapers for the Lansing State Journal.

Vorce followed the van out of the neighborhood, which is west of Airport Road and roughly a mile north of I-69. The first time he drew his weapon was on Driftwood near Airport Road. Vorce drew his weapon a second time in a gas station parking lot where the van driver eventually stopped.

On-duty law enforcement from both the DeWitt Police Department and Michigan State Police ultimately arrived on scene at the gas station.

"This now-former officer posed a danger to his community on the morning he drew his gun on a newspaper delivery employee,” said Nessel. “In this plea agreement we prioritized both the officer’s resignation and the surrender of his MCOLES certification as a matter of public safety and public trust in law enforcement, as well as the concerns and wishes of the victim in this assault. Both the city and township of DeWitt are safer communities for it, and this will inhibit Vorce from wearing another badge in another town without considerable time for reflection and requiring renewed approval
and scrutiny from The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.”

Both charges are punishable by up to one year of incarceration. Vorce previously resigned his position as a police officer with the City of DeWitt and has relinquished his MCOLES certification, a requisite for employment as a police officer in the state of Michigan, as condition of the state prosecution accepting his plea.

Vorce will be sentenced by Clinton County Circuit Court Judge Cori E. Barkman on October 16, at 2  p.m.