Cannon Township, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police Sergeant Matthew Janiskee, 44, is announcing his candidacy for Kent County Commissioner in the 4th District.
He’s a Republican from Cannon Township who is currently serving as a sergeant with the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Janiskee has been part of the police department for 22 years.
The 4th District Seat is currently occupied by Gary Rolls.
He recently bonded out of jail after being arrested for four counts of criminal sexual conduct charges and two counts of evidence tampering and using a computer to commit a crime.
Rolls is accused of sexually assaulting a woman starting at the age of 9 and continuing an abusive relationship until she was in her 20’s.
She came forward late in 2012 seeking a protection order against Rolls.
That hearing in part helped to launch a criminal investigation into the Kent County Commissioner.
Since his legal troubles began, Rolls had missed a number of meetings in early 2013 although his attendance habits changed after FOX 17 ran a report on the number of meetings he had missed.
Although he was able to post $500,000 bond, he wasn’t in attendance at the most recent county commission meeting following his arrest.
Janiskee said, “The last year there has been a void of leadership.”
