Van Buren Township Public Safety Director Carl McClanahan resigned on Wednesday, Jan. 23, with the resignation to take effect that same day.
McClanahan, VBT’s first black public safety director, was named as interim director in the summer of 2009 after former director Jerry Champagne was fired. McClanahan went on to be named full-time director.
He was named director by former Supervisor Paul White, who was defeated for reelection last August by Linda Combs, who now is supervisor.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years now,” McClanahan said Wednesday, referring to his police career. “It’s the right thing at the right time.”
He said the job never was about him as far as he was concerned, although others thought so.
“This time it’s about me,” he said, adding, “Actually I’m pretty excited.”
McClanahan agrees he is not ready for a rocking chair, so something else will turn up. He said he plans a trip to Arizona soon.
McClanahan, who lives in VBT with his wife, retired from the Detroit Police Department after 25 years of service. Brenda, who also retired from the Detroit PD, was elected to a four-year term on the VBT Board of Trustees last November.
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Carl McClanahan has brought class, dignity and professionalism to VBT. It is a sad day to see him leave, and I sincerely hope whomever follows him also follows his example. He is a true asset to our community, and has done a magnificent job. Good luck to you Carl, on all of your future endeavors!