OCRP Voters Guide 2016 | Page 8

COUNTY ELECTION CANDIDATE Office: OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF Candidate: MICHAEL BOUCHARD www.sheriffbouchard.com www.facebook.com/michaeljamesbouchard twitter.com/MikeJBouchard Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard runs one of the nation’ s largest Sheriff’ s Offices, overseeing 1,300 employees and managing an annual budget of over $143 million dollars. Sheriff Bouchard brings the experience of 30 years of law enforcement and 30 years as an elected official to the position. Since taking office in 1999, Sheriff has saved millions of taxpayer dollars from cost-cutting measures. Crime rates remain low and he continues to look for the latest technologies and training for the agency to better protect Oakland County residents. Recently, the Sheriff’s Relations Team was formed comprised of community leaders and activists to build trust and discuss issues that exist within our neighborhoods. In 2015, Sheriff Bouchard launched the Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, which serves children and provides a safe environment for them to participate in extracurricular activities. Support now Sheriff Bouchard actively works with lawmakers on public policy both within the State Legislature and Congress. He sought the introduction of legislation that allowed police officers to carry and administer opioid antagonists to those experiencing overdoses. Since the launch of the Sheriff’s Office program, countless lives have been saved due to this life-saving antagonist. Additionally, Sheriff Bouchard is a member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and routinely weighs in on policy and procedure dealing with terrorist threats and homeland security issues. Sheriff Bouchard was decorated nine times for meritorious acts in the line of duty while a road officer with Bloomfield Township Police Department and has continued his actions at the Sheriff's Office. He received commendations from the City of New York and the FBI for his service at Ground Zero and commendations from Department of Defense. Service is a calling that he continues to hear to this day. In 2016, Sheriff Bouchard received the National Sheriffs' Association, National Sheriff of the Year Award from which he was selected out of over 3,000 sheriffs across the nation.