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BELLAIRE - Sergeant David Kopkau will step into the position of undersheriff for Antrim County, Sheriff Terry Johnson announced in a press release last week.

Johnson said he had many reasons to appoint Kopkau as the new undersheriff.

"I think he'll bring a real professionalism to office," Johnson said. "He's done just about everything there is to do within the department. He brings the clear vision of community policing that we believe in."

Kopkau worked nine years with the Elk Rapids Village Police Department where he developed the "officer friendly" program involving stranger danger, fingerprinting and establishing a positive police image. He has also worked with the Sheriff's Office as an undercover detective, patrol deputy, fleet manager, corrections officer and dispatcher, according to the press release.

Kopkau, with 30 years experience in law enforcement, and with Antrim County on andÊ off since 1986, replaces Dan Bean, who was fired in February after announcing his run for the position of Sheriff in an alleged violation of the Hatch Act.

Johnson said under the Hatch Act, nobody can run for a partisan position while being employed by a department that receives federal funding and that Bean should have resigned when he announced his candidacy.

Bean still isn't sure if his firing was justified. He said he has talked to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which provides advisory opinions on and enforces the Hatch Act. According to Bean, officials there say Johnson should have checked with them before making a final determination.

"Every situation is different and every county is different on what they get and how much they get," Bean said. "The Sheriff's Office gets very little federal funding and it's not paying my wages."

But Johnson, who made the judgment with the county's legal counsel, said he is still confident he made the right decision.

Bean, who was Antrim County's undersheriff for 16 years, said he isn't focusing on the controversy, and is instead zeroing in on the race for Sheriff.

"I want this thing to be settled at the voter's box," Bean said. "I will run for sheriff and let the voters decide Aug. 5."

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.