During Siemon’s tenure, her office dropped a 2019 felony charge against the MSU shooter, that would have prevented him from legally owning a firearm. 

Since, at the time, he had a minimal criminal history and no records of mental health issues, Dewane said the 2019 plea deal was nothing out of the ordinary. 

“That was a standard plea offer that would’ve been made today,” Dewane said.

Siemon told Bridge Michigan in February the decision to offer the shooter the plea deal, "comports with with Michigan's practices and sentencing guidelines.”

One of Siemon's notable decisions during her time as prosecutor was around her felony firearm policy. She limited the use of the felony firearm charge to individuals who used a firearm while committing a crime. Individuals who had a firearm but did not use them while committing a different crime would not be charged with a felony firearm, under Siemon.

In his first week in office, Dewane reversed his predecessor’s felony firearm policy, enforcing Michigan’s felony firearm law for anyone who commits a felony while using or possessing a firearm.

“It’s my position and my belief that the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime makes that much more dangerous situation where somebody can be shot or killed,” Dewane said. 

Another noteworthy policy implemented by Dewane’s office charges repeat felony offenders under Michigan’s Habitual Offender law, which would increase their maximum sentence to jail time or prison. 

Dewane said the “tail end” of the sentence for those charged with repeat felonies, or habitual offenders, rises with each felony charge. 

“If you have a prior felony, you’ll be habitualized,” Dewane said. “That increases the penalty on the top end of the sentence, not the minimum.”

Dewane, who responded to the scene at Berkey Hall on Feb. 13, worked primarily as a homicide prosecutor before assuming office. In a time when gun violence is the leading cause of death for children, he said diminishing it is his top priority as county prosecutor.

“I have seen a huge increase in gun violence in our community, including murder,” Dewane said. “That was my number one priority coming into office, is to try to reduce that.”

Dewane said his office uses discretion when charging individuals with crimes and presenting them with plea offers. He said the varying factors in each case, such as criminal and mental health history or the type of weapon used add a layer of complexity from case to case.

“Each case is unique,” Dewane said. “I do take a hardline stance on violent crime and gun possession, but I also use my discretion at the same time.”

Three bills regarding gun reform legislation, which establish a red flag law, require safe storage and expand background checks, passed in the Michigan Senate on March 13.

Dewane said any law that prevents someone from possessing or using a gun in a deadly manner is a “benefit for everyone involved.”

“I don’t get the argument that ‘if they’re not going to follow the law, then why do we have new laws?’” Dewane said. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

In an era plagued by gun violence and rampant school shootings, Dewane said although the United States has a gun problem a lack of mental health treatment, funding and hospitals has created a disastrous combination. 

Dewane said he’s cognisant of scrutiny around racial profiling issues in police jurisdictions.

“I’m going to enforce the laws equally for everyone,” Dewane said. “I don’t look at a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation when a case comes through our office to be charged.”