‘I turned to you when no one else was listening’: Brittany Shank’s father ‘woefully disappointed’ in St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners
Greg Wallace wants his daughter’s case given to the department with “more resources and much more empathy,” he stated to the county board.
Brittany Wallace Shank and her father, Greg Wallace, were physically absent from Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. Nevertheless, supporters hope the duo continue to make an impact.
November 30 will mark six years since Shank’s disappearance from the Sturgis area. Last month, a peaceful protest was held outside and briefly inside the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office. In a statement read Tuesday, Wallace said he was “woefully disappointed” in the county board, whose members were invited but absent from the protest.
“Not one of you had the respect to respond to my invitation, let alone show up and march in honor of my baby girl and her justice,” Wallace stated. “I turned to you when no one else was listening. I had hoped that you would put yourself in my shoes and put pressure on the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department to turn Brittany’s case over to the Michigan State Police, just as I am confident you’d want it done if your child were missing for six years.”
It’s time to give his daughter’s case to the department with “more resources and much more empathy,” Wallace stated. While it appears his request for help is going on deaf ears, he remains determined.
“I am not going away. I am not backing down. Our community deserves better. And we are not going away. We are not backing down. Our community deserves better,” Wallace stated.
Commissioner Christina Yunker thanked protestors Allie Kyle, Susan Dineen, and Jackie Milliman for speaking Tuesday. Yunker and colleagues also shared their hope that St. Joseph County’s imminent new sheriff’s department administration will result in progress. Sheriff-elect Chad Spence won the Republican primary in August and general election earlier in November.
“To Brittany’s family, keep the pressure on,” Commissioner Rick Shaffer said. “It’s important to you and it’s important to us as well. I admire your tenacity.”
“I agree with Commissioner Yunker, that with a new administration, we will finally have someone passionate enough to serve as sheriff. That will be helpful for all the citizens in the county,” Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster said.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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