Michelle Greenlee is first female undersheriff in the
history of Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department
history of Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department
By Bruce Rolfe
A 23-year veteran of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department is eager to take on a new opportunity in her career.
Former Chief Deputy Michelle Greenlee agreed, at Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller’s request, to transfer into the undersheriff position September 28.
She transitioned into the position after former Undersheriff Jim VanDyken transferred at his own request back to his original command unit and will serve as chief deputy until he retires at the end of 2024.
Greenlee has served the County of Kalamazoo through the Sheriff’s Office for more than 23 years.
She is the first female undersheriff in the history of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department. That’s something the new undersheriff is proud of, but she’s more pleased she was asked to take on the role because of her qualifications.
“Before I took the position, I did ask the sheriff why he wanted me to fill the position. It had nothing to do with that (gender), so I was very excited when he was able to answer my questions on why he would like me to take the position. Knowing those reasons. It had nothing to do with my gender, my race or my background or anything like that. It had to do with my merit and the work I put in here and what I’ve been able to show him (Sheriff Fuller). I was glad that he asked me for those reasons, so that meant a lot to me. It meant a lot for him to say that to me. It is 2024, and I’m hoping by the time this next
generation comes up, it’s just common,” said Greenlee, who said she has had great female mentors as well as great male mentors who have encouraged her along the way.
“I think that sometimes being the first is not an easy task and the expectations some times tend to be different, not purposely. But when you’re the first at anything, whether it’s your gender, or your race, or cultural background, or anything like that, there tends to be a finer microscope on you,” adds the new undersheriff.
Greenlee has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western Michigan University. She graduated from the School of Police Staff and Command in 2015 at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety and graduated from the FBI National Academy class 279 in March, 2020.
Greenlee started her career at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department as an intern in 1999 and has held several specialty positions and every rank within the Sheriff’s Office. She has served in all three agency divisions: Jail, Operations, and Support, and has held command positions since 2013. In 2012 she was promoted to a lieutenant and in 2022 she was promoted to a captain. Because of her past experience and educational background, Sheriff Fuller made her a chief deputy.
She returned to WMU where she obtained a master’s degree in public administration because she had aspirations of advancing further in the field, but she also wanted the opportunity to stay in local government.
Because she has worked in residence corrections, as a booking officer, a transport court officer, a deputy dispatcher, an undercover investigator, performed direct assistance with the Southwest Michigan Enforcement team with the Michigan State Police and did a stint on road patrol, she has great insight and experience on how the department operates.
“While the people change quicker then they ever did in the past, I don’t always know all of the people as well as I would like to. But I do know the positions very well. The goal is to know the people in those positions because they make everything run. It helped me in regards to, I can say I’ve been there. I understand, but I know it’s different now. But I can empathize when they have issues in their position or they’re struggling on work flow. I think having that experience and historical background does help me with troubleshooting or problem solving. Or advising when it comes to captains or lieutenants that come to you for advisement and direction. I think that helps a great deal to have that experience,” explained Greenlee.
Eventually, VanDyken felt it was important for Greenlee to learn about the undersheriff job and started to show her some of his job responsibilities. As VanDyken moved closer to retirement, Sheriff Fuller started discussing the undersheriff role with her.
The new undersheriff emphasized she is very grateful VanDyken chose to retire the way he is, keeping succession planning and mentoring in mind to help make her transition into the position a little more smooth.
“Sometimes you don’t get that and sometimes you’re thrown into a position and that person’s just gone. And there’s nobody else around to show you. So I think I am receiving a huge benefit with him staying on here,” explained Greenlee.
She feels the new opportunity will offer her more opportunities to learn in a constantly changing world.
“Whether it’s the law, personnel, or the work flow or the process we use, the procedures we use, that’s what’s exciting, is that you get to be a change maker. Some times people are afraid of change and it’s scary because it’s unknown. But to be one of the people that gets to help make change happen. And if we don’t always see that first as a positive thing, later on we can look back and say, ‘oh ya, she helped make this happen,’ this change in our department. Those are rewarding things. When people look back and see the impact that you’ve made, and they will come and say something to you. That’s what you look forward to, whether it’s a peer, a subordinate, or it’s just a community member or getting involved with different community interests,” adds Greenlee.
The promotion into the undersheriff role is also very rewarding personally for Greenlee.
“It is rewarding because I think anytime you move to a different position and have the opportunity to do more things is awesome. It helps you grow, it helps you on your journey to who you are and what you’re supposed to be doing,” said the new undersheriff.
Greenlee said she will attempt to carry out her responsibilities in a similar manner VanDyken did. She said while there’s a lot of administrative work, she feels it is important to work with other leaders in the community, townships, and board members to build relationships.
“I think one of the primary responsibilities of the undersheriff is to not just advocate, but to look out for the best interests of the sheriff. That means know what’s going on in your division, make sure he or she (the sheriff) is completely updated and ready to be updated, and that they’re downloaded with the information they need whether it’s in reference to a project or an incident, or whatever is going on. Let them know the status of things. What you suggest as a response to things. He or she needs to know all those things. Sometimes they just need advises, so sometimes it’s your job to do the research. Because they (the sheriff) make very important decisions,” explained Greenlee.
She’s open to change, especially if it will help make the department operate in a smooth and more efficient manner, adding Sheriff Fuller is open to new ideas. She said there’s an appreciation of how things have been done before and if they work that is great, but if the possibility is there to do better “we should always explore it.”
“I’m excited to keep being a part of those things and to help be a change maker. And to turn the fears and sometimes negativity. I think it all stems from fear. Change does sometimes turn into something exciting and positive and it can have positive effects, and showing people that is a pretty cool thing,” said Greenlee.
A role she was asked to perform helping others at a young age may have created some interest in the law enforcement field.
Greenlee, who grew up in Ludington, said her first experience of having a badge was in sixth grade when she was a AAA Safety Patrol Officer when her sixth grade teacher promoted her to a lieutenant. She received a metal badge she still has today.
“I don’t know why, but I really remember that. I loved that job and I loved when I was given the extra responsibility to make sure my peers were taken care of and do the rounds on their route and fill in for them when they were gone. I was so proud of that,” explained Greenlee.
However it was through a mentorship opportunity she was asked to help out with in high school that exposed her some to what law enforcement is all about, reinforced her aspirations to consider a career in law enforcement.
She was selected by Mason County Sheriff Deputy Kim Cole, (the current Mason County sheriff), who ran the DARE program, to be on his mentorship team. She recalls Cole took her into the elementary schools and the junior high to talk with kids about drugs and stuff that may be going on at their home that they wouldn’t necessarily be comfortable talking to an adult about.
The new undersheriff recalls Cole not only showed her what he did at his job, but taught her it was more then just going out into the community with a patrol car. She learned the job also meant meeting with kids and having the opportunity to help and impact your community in a lot of different ways.
“And I think that’s when I was really like, ‘I think I would like to be a police officer.’ And I prayed a lot about it and I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I could have stayed in Ludington and went to the local community college and become a police officer there. But I wasn’t totally sure. You’re young and you’re still trying to figure out your life and what you want,” recalled Greenlee.
It was when she started taking some criminal justice classes at Western Michigan University she said she enjoyed, Greenlee thought a career in law enforcement was something she would like to pursue.
“I always pray for direction and guidance and I felt like I got that and I felt if it wasn’t right for me, I would have been directed in another way. And I did have obstacles like we all do going through school or
going through a police academy. But I thought if I wasn’t able to overcome them, then maybe it wasn’t meant to be. But it was, so, I just kept at it,” said Greenlee.
“I feel very fortunate that I was allowed to become a police officer. Very, very excited and proud. I enjoyed the police academy. I’ve enjoyed my experience here. I’ve got to do a lot of stuff that most people would not do in a department this size,” said Greenlee.
Moving into the undersheriff role makes her feel even more a part of the community, something she embraces.
“I feel like I’ve grown up here. I feel like this is my community. This is an agency I got the opportunity to grow up in and learn a lot. I would probably do just about anything for the organization if the sheriff asked me to, or even if another peer asked me to. This is my home, this is where my heart is and I’m so grateful for the good and bad experiences. They’ve really helped me as a person,”adds the new undersheriff.
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