Crime & Safety

Retired Sparta Police Lieutenant Dies in Township Home

Lt. Jeffrey Nafis spent 26 years with local squad. Visitation and funeral to be held this week.

A 26-year member of the Sparta Police Department died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon at his township home of natural causes.

Sparta Police Chief Ernest Reigstad announced Monday the passing of Lt. Jeffrey Nafis, who retired in 2012.

Nafis is a former marine who was hired by Sparta Township Police on Feb. 18, 1986. Just five years later he was appointed to the detective bureau in Sept. 1991, and then ascended to rank of Detective Sergeant, Reigstad said.

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His final promotion to the rank of Lieutenant came in Oct. 1995 where he was assigned as the administrative commander, where he stayed until his retirement in 2012.

Visitation will be held at Goble Funeral Home on 22 Main Street in Sparta on Wednesday, June 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church at 37 Newton Sparta Road in Newton. 

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