Spence holds media event

A Mendon native and Lockport Township resident formalized the fact he is seeking the four-year term of sheriff, up for grabs in the August 2024 primary.

Chad Spence filed paperwork in April but staged his first public media event Monday outside the St. Joseph County Courthouse.

Spence, 49, used the occasion to announce, if elected, his undersheriff would be David Northrop. The duo has 53 years of law-enforcement experience – Spence with the sheriff’s department and Northrup with the Sturgis Department of Public Safety.

Spence said he had given no thought to running for sheriff. Circumstances changed, however, and Spence said with incumbent Mark Lillywhite choosing to not seek re-election, a rare opportunity presented itself.

Spence retired from the sheriff’s department in January 2022 after ascending to the role of detective-sergeant.

Meanwhile, the 57-year-old Northrop is a former director of Sturgis Department of Public Safety. A Sturgis resident, he currently works for Sturgis Public Schools as safety and security supervisor.

Other candidates are Joe Bingaman, Dennis Allen and current undersheriff Jason Bingaman.