Greg Zyburt

By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE–Marquette County Sheriff Greg Zyburt was elected to a second term as chairman of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforement Standards during the commission’s regular meeting in November.

MCOLES promotes public safety in Michigan by setting standards for selection, employment, licensing, license revocation and funding in law enforcement and criminal justice, in both the public and private sector under Public Act 203 of 1965.

Under its authority, the 19-member commission provides leadership and support to the criminal justice community throughout Michigan.

Commissioners represent a diverse range of Michigan law enforcement entities and organizations, such as the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Officers Labor Council, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Michigan and the Michigan State Troopers Association.

The appointments to this board are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Zyburt to the commission in January 2018.

Zyburt also represents the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police on the commission.

Wyoming, Mich., Chief of Police Kim Koster was also elected vice chair during the meeting.

According to its website, MCOLES conducts business in an environment free from organizational or financial conflicts of interest with independent control over fulfilling its mission.

The organization is nationally recognized as a leader in the development of training and ethical standards for law enforcement officers.

The commission gives annual distributions from the Michigan Justice Training Fund to eligible entities in what is referred to as the law enforcement distribution.

The commission is also required to distribute the remaining balance of the fund, after administrative costs have been deducted, in a competitive grant process.

The website states that 600 law enforcement agencies that employ over 19,500 officers operate under commission standards.

Being on the commission allows Zyburt to weigh in on a number of issues that Michigan law enforcement agencies face, such as training, funding and more.