Newaygo Sheriff Pat Hedlund sent out an announcement this week that he has suspended a ranking road patrol deputy over several issues, including on-duty political activity.

“Recently, it has come to my attention that a ranking member of this department may have defied election laws, department policies regarding insubordination, ‘on-duty’ political activity and policy regarding the release of departmental information,” said Hedlund.

“To that end, I have taken and will continue to take the necessary steps as a Sheriff to make sure that persons employed at this agency put the needs of the citizens before their own personal agendas. I simply refuse to tolerate behavior like that.”

Hedlund said that the person had been put on paid administrative suspension pending the investigation into the allegations of improper conduct.

The name of the deputy was not released. WZZM reported that sources told them it was Lt. Chad Palmiter, who was disciplined last March after a video posted on YouTube showed Palmiter talking to Newaygo County Commissioners about requiring quotas on tickets, which is against state law.