Sheriff Deputies

Virnell France

​Meet Peninsula Township’s Community Police Officer
Hello to all Peninsula Township residents and guests. My name is Virnell France, and I am your new community police officer.
I grew up in Muskegon County, MI, and graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice before completing the Police Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. I have been married for 14 years to my wife, Kelly, with whom I have a 12-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son.
I moved to the area to work for the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 1, 2017. Prior to this, I worked for the Muskegon Heights Police Department, where I performed duties ranging from road patrol to evidence room manager. At the end of my time there, I was a detective. I also was the community outreach officer for my entire nine years there.
As a reminder, the county’s winter parking ordinance is in effect from December 1 to March 31 from midnight to 8 a.m. This means parking is not allowed on county-maintained roads during these hours and is potentially enforceable by citation.
If you’re heading out of town and would like me to drive by on occasion to make sure everything’s okay, just let me know. I’d be happy to help keep your home and property safe while you’re away.
I look forward to working with the Peninsula Township community and to continuing the professional service the sheriff's office has provided over the years. I can be reached at the office at 231.223.4525 or on my cell at or 231.620.0687 or via email at vfrance@gtsheriff.org.

Tony Martinez

​Meet Peninsula Township’s Newest Community Police Officer
Greetings Peninsula Township residents and visitors.  My name is Tony Martinez and I am honored to have recently been assigned to be your newest Peninsula Township Community Police Officer. 
Born in Charleston South Carolina, I was raised in a military family setting which provided me an opportunity to grow up in a hand-full of places such as Texas, Florida, Illinois, California, Scotland, and Sardinia Italy.
Upon graduating from high school in 1990, I launched my mechanical engineering career at Sea World of California where I was employed for close to a decade.  As luck would have it, San Diego was also where I met my best friend and now wife Mackenzee, who so happens to be from Old Mission Peninsula.
In 1999 I moved Las Vegas, Nevada where I continued my career at the Mirage and its sister property, Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.  After what seemed like an eternity living in the desert, we left Las Vegas in the fall of 2006 to come home to Northern Michigan and be closer to family.
Having a strong desire to serve the community, I focused on changing careers and attended Northwestern Michigan College to pursue a career in Law Enforcement.  I graduated in the Spring of 2011 with a degree in Criminal Justice and began working as a Marine Deputy.
After serving communities within Emmet and Leelanau Counties as a Tribal Police Officer, I joined Grand Traverse County’s Sheriff’s Office in the Spring of 2019 and began performing the duties associated with a Deputy Sheriff. 
Thus far within my Law Enforcement career, I’ve earned the title of Firearms Instructor and have served as an Operator in the Northern Michigan Mutual Aid Task Force, Emergency Response Team 2. In addition, I maintain a supporting role as a Diver for the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Dive Team. 
It is with pleasure that I now complement my career as one of your Community Police Officers.  I look forward to providing the citizens and visitors of Peninsula Township with whatever Law Enforcement services they may require. I can be reached at: fmartinez@gtsheriff.org or 231.633.2276 or 231.223.4525.

Law Enforcement Property Check

Complete the form below if you would like Peninsula Township's Community Police Officer, Virnell France, to check your property while you are away.  Include in the comment box the dates you will be gone and any special instructions.  You will receive an email confirmation when your email is received.  Please contact Virnell at 231-223-4525 with any questions or concerns.

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