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ESCANABA -- Delta County Prosecutor Brett Gardner resigned Monday after serving the county for nearly four years.
"The decision to leave was not easy, however, the community will be left in the good hands (of) the police and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Wickman. I want to thank the community for giving this opportunity to serve," said Gardner.
Gardner was appointed in May of 2018 after the resignation of former prosecutor Philip Strom. Prior to his appointment, Gardner served for 24 years in the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office as the chief assistant prosecutor. He later served as an adjunct professor at the Thomas Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University in Lansing and as a trial layer in private practice.
In a press release issued by Gardner late Monday -- following his resignation, which took effect at 4 p.m. -- the prosecutor reflected on his term. He claimed drug prosecutions and sentencing increased significantly during his term, and underscored his relationships with law enforcement and the work of Wickman, who Gardner appointed to serve as the drug prosecutor.
"Delta County law enforcement consists of some of the best police officers I have had the honor of working with," said Gardner. "Their commitment to this community is clear and their hard work and processional approach has, and will continue to have a dramatic impact on the safety of this community, If I was successful, and that is for the community to decide, it was because of the police and Chief Assistant Wickman's relentless pursuit of those who chose to violate our laws and put our safety at risk."
Wickman took over immediately as the acting prosecutor for the county. Due to the timing of Gardner's resignation, who will fill the seat for the remaining two years of Gardner's term will be decided in the November 2022 election. Judge John Economopoulos can appoint someone to fill the role, however, that appointment would only last until Dec. 31, unless the appointed person ran and was elected in the November election.