Posted on 03/23/2012 4:28:10 AM PDT by equaviator
Twenty-one Sterling Heights police command officers have been suspended 10 to 30 days for the inaccurate submission of time cards.
Police Chief Michael Reese could not be reached for comment, but he made his feelings clear at a City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
A report, released by Internal Affairs Lt. Luke Riley on Wednesday to The Macomb Daily under the Freedom of Information Act, said the suspensions range from 30 days for lieutenants to 10-day suspensions for sergeants.
Riley said the officers violated a department manual of rules that stipulates they are required to submit accurate timecards.
The suspensions were the direct result of command officers leaving work early on numerous occasions dating back at least 90 days.
James Hack, a captain, second highest ranking officer at the department, denied participating or knowledge of officers leaving early. Some of the officers said Hack approved the practice. Nine command officers who advised the police administration said Hack was aware of the practice.
Other officers suspended for leaving early are lieutenants David Smith, David Sharna, Steve Jesperson, Kevin Reese, John Rogers, Dale Dwojakowski and Steve Jesperson. They were accused of receiving and permitting wages for the time where they were absent.
Sergeants suspended are Dale Brown, Colleen Hopper, Guy Holmes, Paul LaBaere, James Wood, David Cattaneo, Mark Schmidt, Ronald Gotowicki, James Bryant, Paul Korell, Linda Deprez, Anthony Roebuck, Scott Anderson and Kenneth Pappas.
The lieutenants will have 10 days of their 30-day suspension held in abeyance for two years and if they work with a clean slate the 10 days will be deleted. For sergeants, the same will occur with five days being held back.
Mayor Richard Notte said he believes all of the suspensions are fair. He said the discipline was severe. Continued...
“They are paying back all of the money they improperly took from their employer,” Notte said. “I don’t think this will ever happen again.”
Notte said Hack promoted the illegal activity because of a recent arbitration ruling against command officers.
The matter remains in Macomb Circuit Court.
“Hack condoned this activity,” Notte said. “He was their boss and promoted it because he was bitter at the city.”
Councilman Michael Taylor, a Mount Clemens attorney, said he is not satisfied with the suspensions. He said it wasn’t enough.
Taylor said the officers of the same rank got the exact same punishment. He said some should have gotten a lot more.
“Some are more culpable than others,” Taylor said.
The officers’ lost wages will come out of their vacation and personal day time bank. Taylor said it will be taken from money the officers have coming.
Taylor said the officers will lose $70,000 from their banked time. Hack, because of money he would have earned on the police department’s DROP program, will lose at least $400,000.
Hack is making $140,000 annually and he still had four years left on the DROP program.
What kind of animal eats at the trough?
In my book its called stealing.
They all need to be fired just like they would have been if they had real jobs and falsified time cards..
If they are stealing fire them, nothing lower than a dirty police officer.
“They are paying back all of the money they improperly took from their employer,”
A theif is a theif. Period. Would a bank robber be free from criminal charges if he just gave the money back? These officers, regardless of motivation, simply defrauded their employer (the people of SH) and committed a crime.
They should all be fired and charged. Just like any other employee would (and should) be if they steal from their employer.
BINGO and there are undoubtedly lots left.
They all should be fire today.
“Other officers suspended for leaving early are lieutenants David Smith, David Sharna, Steve Jesperson, Kevin Reese, John Rogers, Dale Dwojakowski and Steve Jesperson. They were accused of receiving and permitting wages for the time where they were absent.
Sergeants suspended are Dale Brown, Colleen Hopper, Guy Holmes, Paul LaBaere, James Wood, David Cattaneo, Mark Schmidt, Ronald Gotowicki, James Bryant, Paul Korell, Linda Deprez, Anthony Roebuck, Scott Anderson and Kenneth Pappas.”
I wonder if they party with Chrysler workers during their lunch breaks...
Remember their names. The next time you get pulled over by the Sterling Heights PD, check the nameplate on the uniform. They’d better have a damned good reason (probably cause) for making the stop.
'i' before 'e', except after 'c', unless of course, your word is weird.
/spelling nazi
I have an upgraded computer system now at work and the updated spellchecker (grammer checker) is teaching me that I have a couple of very stubborn spelling and grammer problems. I am continually messing up wierd, theif and can not.
Don't worry about it. It makes the day of a grammar/spell nazis to catch someone. The internet is much safer with them don't ya know : )
Most of the time I couldn't care less but for some WIERD reason I thought that one was funny and had to bring it up.
Y'all have a great weekend, ya hear!
I just figured that it is Friday and am reading silliness into both of your posts! I’m buyin’!
It was funny. At first I thought it was suppose to read, " the-if, the-if", and I was missing the deeper meaning of it!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.