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Wayne County Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes will lead department after Napoleon's death

Wayne County Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes
Posted at 11:53 AM, Dec 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-18 11:53:59-05

(WXYZ) — Wayne County Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes will take over the department after the death of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, the Wayne County Sheriff's Director confirms to 7 Action News.

Napoleon died Thursday from COVID-19. He was 65.

RELATED: State, local leaders respond to the passing of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon

According to Direct Pageant Atterberry, there will need to be a vote to determine the next sheriff for Wayne County. Napoleon did win re-election in November but had not yet been sworn in.

PHOTOS: Remembering Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon through the years

Pfannes was appointed undersheriff in 2007 and then re-appointed by Napoleon in 2009.

According to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Pfannes was a police officer in Westland for 25 years before becoming Undersheriff and worked as an evidence technician, detective, special investigations unit commander, SWAT commander and executive level administrator.