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August 12 – 18, 2021 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 32 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Lawsuit claims city violated resident’s civil rights
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
A Wayne resident found not-
Vol. 136, No. 32 guilty of criminal charges lev- ” long term.
Blackwell also urged the
Sumpter officials hope eled by city officials has filed a The adverse actions of the defendants, elected officials to take note of
more area residents will take lawsuit seeking punitive dam- Blackwell claims, subjected him to criminal the resignations of numerous
advantage of the Forgotten ages against the City of Wayne, city employees due to the cited
Harvest food distribution City Manager Lisa Nocerini, prosecution and deprivation of liberty. morale issues. He recommend-
program in the township. Police Chief Ryan Strong and ed that officials follow
See page 2. Police Lt. Finley Carter. Hurford's Aug. 8, 2018 report
Mark B. Blackwell, through Blackwell, a long-time resident included interviews with 17 and terminate Nocerini's
his attorney Timothy E. of the city, cites comments he city employees and the review employment during the public
THE CANTON Galligan, is demanding a jury made at a Jan. 8, 2019 public of hundreds of documents. In meeting Jan. 8, 2019, according
EAGLE trial to adjudicate his claims meeting of the Wayne City his more than 32-page report, to his court filings.
EAGLE
Blackwell claims that in
Vol. 74, No. 32 that the defendants violated Council urging the members to Hurford determined that the retaliation for his public com-
his first, fourth and fourteenth
“review and follow the recom-
city workforce suffered from
Preparations are under rights under the U.S. mendations of an employment poor morale; that there was a ments at the meeting, Nocerini
way for the 11th Annual Constitution. He is asking expert.” He details the prob- failure of leadership by used her influence and posi-
Brew, Brats, & Bands at the “actual, special, punitive and lems the expert's report found, Nocerini; that a perception of tion as city manager to have
Barn fundraising event set or exemplary damages” along especially with the actions of favoritism by Nocerini toward him criminally investigated by
for 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. with interest, costs, reasonable Nocerini. He says he urged the certain employees was preva- the police department and
11 in Preservation Park. attorney fees and expert wit- council members at the meet- lent; that there was an absence subsequently charged with dis-
See page 5. ness fees in an unspecified ing to follow the explicit rec- of trust between the city man- turbing a public meeting and
amount as compensation for ommendations of the inde- agement team and city council; criminal stalking. The court
their actions. pendent report and terminate that the city management documents claim Nocerini
THE INKSTER This is the second lawsuit Nocerini. team, led by Nocerini, was not made numerous unsubstanti-
LEDGER STAR filed against the city and action on the report, prepared performing as a high function- ated complaints to police
LEDGER STAR
Council members took no
Nocerini in the last month.
ing team and that the status
Vol. 74, No. 32 In court documents, by Richard Hurford, which quo could not be sustained See Lawsuit, page 8
Inkster Police Det. Lt.
Jeffrey Smith performed his Inn at St. John’s property in Plymouth sold to Pulte
“last call” July 9 before offi- While terms of the sale
cially beginning his retire- were not disclosed, the long-
ment after more than 27 rumored sale of The Inn at St.
years with the department. John's property in Plymouth
See page 3.
has been confirmed.
After months of speculation,
the Archdiocese of Detroit
THE NORTHVILLE announced that hotel, golf
EAGLE course, banquet center and
EAGLE
Vol. 210, No. 32 other land along Five Mile
road between Northville and
When students at Sheldon roads has been sold to
Moraine Elementary School Pulte Family Management SJ
return to in-person classes LLC.
next month, they will be The former St. John's
greeted by a new principal. Catholic Seminary originally
See page 4. opened in 1948 and housed
and educated priests until it
was closed by the Archdiocese
THE PLYMOUTH in 1988.
EAGLE The late William Pulte was
EAGLE
Vol. 21, No. 32 a member of the group of
Catholic business owners who
Elvis did not leave the worked to develop the former Inn at St. John’s
building during a recent seminary campus into the cur- role in its success. When the expected to lease the chapel siderable challenges of a
party at Independence rent golf course, hotel configu- Archdiocese expressed inter- space from Pulte to allow for Catholic organization operat-
Village of Plymouth when an ration. est in selling the property, my weddings at the venue. ing a hotel conference center -
Elvis tribute artist arrived to “The Inn at St. John's was father's estate was a natural “This purchase is yet anoth- especially during the pandem-
visit residents. near and dear to my father's choice. They knew that it er example of the Pulte fami- ic - so we are grateful that
See page 8. heart,” said Mark Pulte, would be in good hands.” ly's longstanding commitment Pulte Family Management
William Pulte's son, in a news According to the prepared to southeast Michigan and the SJLLC has stepped forward to
release announcing the sale. statement, the St. John's hotel, local church in Detroit,” said purchase the property and
THE ROMULUS “He was honored to work with conference rooms and recep- Archbishop of Detroit Allen operate it going forward,
ROMAN Cardinal Maida on the trans- tion centers along with the golf Vigneron in a statement. ensuring its continued legacy
ROMAN
and value in the local commu-
“The decision to sell was
course will remain in opera-
formation of this beautiful
Vol. 136, No. 32 property and to have played a tion. The Archdiocese is motivated in part by the con- nity.”
The Detroit Institute of
Arts Inside Out installations Northville Township Police Department earns accreditation
in Romulus are now com-
plete and available for pub- Northville Township ” process is the community,
lic viewing throughout the Manager and Director of Public Mutchler said. “The department
city. Safety Todd Mutchler received Every member of our department is operating under the highest
See page 3. some good news recently. has played a key role standards and that's reflected in
He was notified that the our relationship with the com-
Northville Township Police in this extensive process. munity, with other government
Department achieved one of the bodies and other agencies. The
THE WAYNE most prestigious designations in CALEA designation verifies this
EAGLE law enforcement: accreditation Accreditation, a separate according to the organization and demonstrates that we are
EAGLE

Vol. 74, No. 32 from the Commission on process but one just as rigorous. website. always looking for ways to
Law
Accreditation
“The men and women of the
for
Northville Township is one of
improve our service and by
The Wayne Public Library Enforcement Agencies, Inc. two public safety answering Northville Township Police doing so, we are building trust as
just wants the books back and (CALEA®). points (PSAP) in the state out of Department are driven to serve we protect and serve.”
have rescinded the late fee on This important designation 136 such call centers to achieve our community with profession- Members of the Northville
borrowed materials to allow verifies the department meets this accreditation. The township alism while continuously Township Board of Trustees will
more people to use the library. or excels at best practices of law PSAP receives emergency and improving,” Northville formally recognize the CALEA
See page 8. enforcement standards, non-emergency calls for Township Police Chief Paul reaccreditation at a future meet-
Mutchler explained. Only 11 of Northville Township and the Tennies said. “This process pro- ing.
the 583 police agencies in City of Northville. motes transparency while vali- CALEA is an independent
THE WESTLAND Michigan and only 4 percent of CALEA accreditation is a vol- dating these commitments to nationally accrediting authority
EAGLE
EAGLE more than 18,000 law enforce- untary process that requires those who live and visit formed in 1979 by four major
Vol. 74, No. 32 ment agencies nationwide have agencies to carefully examine Northville Township.” law enforcement membership
Agencies must stand for reac-
achieved accreditation, a
associations: the International
and improve itself, and then sub-
Last week, Westland vot- process that typically takes mit reports showing compliance creditation every four years. Association of Chiefs of Police
ers favored the field of three years to complete. with the programs' standards. “Every member of our (IACP), the National
incumbents as they nar- Northville Township was able to The process provides for a high department has played a key Organization of Black Law
rowed the field of candidates complete it in two years, level of transparency and com- role in this extensive process,” Enforcement Executives
who will go on to compete in Mutchler noted. mitment, followed by an objec- Mutchler said. “We thank them (NOBLE), the National Sheriff's
the general election on Nov. Concurrently, the department tive critique of the police for their hard work in achieving Association (NSA), and the
2. also achieved the CALEA Public department's policies, proce- this prestigious designation.” Police Executive Research
See page 7. Safety Communications dures, and operating standards, The biggest winner in this Forum (PERF).

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