Jeff Hansen

ESCANABA — Drifters Restaurant in Escanaba is collecting money for the family of Jeff Hansen, chief of the Hannahville Tribal Police Department, who recently had surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor and will soon be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation at University of Michigan. Owner Liza Plourde of Drifters is a friend of the Hansens and has put out a bucket at the front register to collect cash donations that will be passed along to help pay for medical and travel expenses.

Jeff, who had worked for the Delta County Sheriff Department for 25 years, became the chief for the Hannahville Tribal Police Department only slightly over a year ago — in the spring of 2024 — after attending 13 weeks of training at the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ U.S. Indian Police Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. He said that he was proud and honored to be a part of the community in Hannahville.

The diagnosis of glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, is never an easy one. For 20 straight years, the children of Don McInnis organized Esky Walk in the Park as a fundraiser for brain tumor research after their father passed away in 2004 after battling a glioblastoma.

When her friend was diagnosed, Plourde — who used to work with Jeff at the sheriff’s department — sought to help. She set out a bucket at the eatery at 701 Lincoln Rd. to collect donations for Hansens.

Remarking on Jeff’s many years spent coaching and the generosity of Jeff and his wife, Plourde said, “usually, the givers aren’t usually the receivers.”

Jeff’s wife, Kristina Hansen, superintendent at Manistique Area Schools, had recently been hired as superintendent of the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) and is due to start July 1.

Plourde hopes that helping out with money for travel and medical expenses may ease a little bit of the family’s stress at this time. Treatment downstate was to begin a few weeks after Jeff’s surgery.

In Hannahville, Lieutenant Justin Poupore is filling the role of acting head of the tribal police department while Chief Hansen is out on medical leave.

“It’s a very sad situation that he has to embark on here. And (we) just absolutely, truly wish him nothing but the best. Hopefully, he’s surrounded by family and friends and loved ones to help get him through this,” Poupore said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with himself and his family, and we’re going to continue to be here to support him in any capacity that we can.”