South Haven police chief quits after he failed to resign previous job

By James Windell

After new revelations came to light, the South Haven Police Chief resigned on April 23, 2025.
The second police chief to resign this year, Dennis Honholt began his duties on April 1, 2025. Just 23 days later, Honholt was forced to resign when information surfaced in the last few days indicating that Honholt had never resigned from his previous position.
Honholt, who has been chief of police in Dover, Tennessee, came to South Haven with 31 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to becoming Chief of Police in Dover, he was a detective with the Clarksville Police Department in Tennessee, Deputy Sheriff/Court Officer for the 60th District Court, Forensic Services Officer with the Walker Police Department and Investigator with the United States Investigative Service.
It came to the attention of the South Haven Beacon on April 23, 2025, that an article had been published in the Stewart County Standard newspaper in Dover, Tennessee, that Honholt was leading a “double life” by being police chief in both Dover and South Haven at the same time. The article indicated that when the Standard talked to Honholt about the dual roles, he refused to provide an adequate explanation.
South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier released a statement on April 24, 2025 that stated that Honholt resigned as South Haven’s Police Chief. The announcement by Hosier went on to say that “City leadership was shocked and disappointed to learn Honholt failed to resign his position in Tennessee once he accepted the position as our police chief. When Honholt was hired on April 1, it was with the explicit understanding that serving as our police chief was to be his exclusive employment.”
Hosier added that, “We share the community’s deep frustration over the turnover in this key leadership role and are working to appoint an interim leader for the department.”
The position of chief of the South Haven Police Department was vacant before Honholt’s hiring since Kevin Swope resigned on February 25, 2025 – after less than two months on the job. Prior to Swope becoming chief on January 6, 2025, there had been no permanent chief following the retirement of Natalie Thompson in 2024. Thompson had been chief since 2016. Since she retired, Sergeant Pat Carlotto filled in as the interim police chief. Following Swope’s resignation, Carlotto was again acting as interim police chief. It is assumed that Carlotto again will serve as interim chief.
Many in the community voiced concern over the hiring of Honholt in the first place. For example, one former South Haven Police Department officer appeared before the City Council in March, 2025, to state that Honholt was not qualified to be the new chief. Furthermore, this individual as well as others advocated for Carlotto to be hired as the chief.
Critics of Honholt’s have indicated that there were troubling aspects to the background investigation carried on prior to his hiring and that these were ignored. Reliable sources also state that interviewers who were part of the process of hiring Honholt rated Honholt below other candidates. A former police officer, who requested anonymity, has stated that the City Manager pushed for hiring a new chief from outside of the department rather than hiring suitable candidates from within the South Haven Police Department.
After Thompson left the position, the city was working with the Michigan Municipal League to select candidates and narrow the viable candidates down to a short list. As part of that process, more than 40 people participated in focus groups providing feedback about the candidates for police chief.
The indications are that the City will go back to the previous list of candidates to find a new police chief. It has been estimated by a police department administrator that each search and hiring of a new chief costs the city approximately $25,000.