Fenton Police Chief Cross Retires After 25 Years; Lt. Forbush Named Acting Chief

Jeff Cross walked away from the Fenton Police Department on September 3rd, ending a quarter-century with the force. The city marked the occasion by declaring it Jeff Cross Day, a ceremonial nod to a man who had shaped the department across two and a half decades. What made his departure notable was not the length of his tenure overall, but the brevity of his time at the top—he had held the chief's position for less than three years, having been promoted to the role in February 2023.

With Cross gone, Lieutenant Daniel Forbush stepped into the acting chief's chair. Forbush, 48, is no stranger to the department or to stepping up when needed. He has been with Fenton Police for more than 23 years, having joined after a short stint with Flint Township Police. He is a Linden High School graduate who studied criminal justice at Pensacola Christian College and has deep roots in the Fenton area. By the department's standard practice of promoting along the chain of command, Forbush was the natural next in line.

Assistant City Manager Michael Hart spoke to Forbush's readiness for the role. "Lt. Forbush has stepped in before," Hart said, expressing confidence that he would perform well in the acting capacity. Forbush himself offered a measured assessment of Cross's leadership, noting the former chief's even temperament and his ability to treat people fairly regardless of circumstance. "He had a good demeanor about him," Forbush said. "And he treated everybody fairly and equally." Cross had begun his career with the department in June 2000, working his way up through the ranks—sergeant in November 2014, lieutenant in September 2017, and finally chief.

Forbush's immediate focus is on projects already in motion. The department is rolling out Mobile Data Computers in police cruisers, a modernization effort aimed at improving officer efficiency in the field. The city is also preparing to install Flock cameras, license plate readers that can help track vehicles of interest. Recently, the department upgraded its own security infrastructure, adding access control panels at its building and deploying new surveillance systems. "It can be quite a heavy workload," Forbush acknowledged. "I'll take it one day at a time and keep the ball moving."

Meanwhile, the city has begun the formal search for a permanent chief. City Manager Lynn Markland will oversee both the decision to move forward with a full recruitment and the design of the selection process itself. A job posting went live on the city's website and on the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police platforms. Candidates have until October 3rd to apply. The position pays between $105,000 and $118,000 annually, according to the posting.

Hart expressed optimism about the department's trajectory, pointing to Fenton's status as the only municipality in the county operating its own dispatch system—a distinction that gives the force operational independence and control over a critical function. "I think we have a very strong department," he said. Forbush will hold the acting chief role until a permanent successor is named, managing both the day-to-day operations and the modernization initiatives that will shape how Fenton policing functions in the years ahead.