Allen Mitchell Hired To Patrol for St. Ignace City Police Department
By Ryan Schlehuber

At right: Allen Mitchell has joined the City Police staff.

St. Ignace City Police Department has a new but familiar face on staff. Allen Mitchell, 24, of St. Ignace, was hired June 30 to fill in for Ryan Diehl, who is on leave for a year to train police in Kosovo.

Mr. Mitchell, a 2000 graduate of LaSalle High School, was an officer for the Village of Mackinaw City for the past two years. When St. Ignace Police Chief Tim Matelski offered him the full-time job, even though it is temporary, he took it.

"I've always wanted to work here," Mr. Mitchell said, "but I didn't realize that it would be so soon."

Mr. Diehl was given a oneyear leave of absence from City Council in May to participate in the United Nations program to train police for a new government. Mr. Diehl's salary and benefits are frozen until his return.

With the addition of Mr. Mitchell, the police department now has a full staff. Bruce Bigger, who has been a police officer for 27 years, is eligible to retire but has committed to the job at least one more year, with Mr. Diehl's absence.

"He was willing to take that chance," said Chief Matelski, about Mr. Mitchell's choice to take the temporary job. "He's a natural fit for the St. Ignace City Police, though. He was our top pick from about four or five applicants."

Mr. Mitchell was hired as a regular full-time officer, with the same benefits as the other officers on staff, which includes health insurance and a life insurance policy. His salary is $15.39 per hour, which is the city's starting wage.

Mr. Mitchell earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in 2004. He was graduated from LSSU's police academy in 2005.

He is the son of Gary and Shelly Mitchell of St. Ignace.