A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
7
August 23, 2018
W
ESTLAND
- W
AYNE
immediately driven from scene,
traveling eastbound on Hines
Drive. The vehicle was later
located on surveillance videos
from nearby businesses and
determined to be a black Buick
Enclave with chrome door han-
dles, rims and luggage rack.
Surveillance photos deter-
mined that the vehicle had sus-
tained front-end and hood dam-
age. A vehicle matching that
description was recovered on
Michigan Avenue in Inkster
about an hour after the sus-
pect's arrest, police said.
Robinson, of Detroit, has
been charged with reckless
driving causing death, failure to
stop at an injury accident scene
causing death and tampering
with evidence. He was
arraigned Aug. 18 in 18th
District Court before Magistrate
Linda Mack who denied bail in
the charges. Robinson was
remanded to Wayne County Jail
awaiting his next court appear-
ance set for Aug. 30 in the
WestlandCourt.
Smith, a 26-year veteran of
the sheriff's department who
led the mounted unit, was plan-
ning his retirement. A resident
of Redford, he is survived by his
wife and an adult son.
Smithwas among the officers
who received certificates of
merit from the Westland Police
Department for his work in
evacuating residents during a
fire at the Taylor Towers senior
citizen apartments in the city.
“Hewas truly one of our best
and an inspiration to all who
knew him. My sincere condo-
lences go out to his family for
this very sudden and painful
loss,” said Wayne County
Executive Warren Evans in a
prepared statement.
Westland Police Chief Jeff
Jedrusik declined to discuss
details of the arrest as the inves-
tigation is ongoing
Wayne County Sheriff Benny
Napoleon said help from the
community, plus detectivework,
led to the arrest of the suspect
and described the police efforts
as “deliberate, methodical,
tedious” during a press confer-
ence announcing the arrest, less
than 48 hours after the incident,
Funeral services for Sgt.
Smit were today, Aug. 23 at
Greater Grace Temple, 23500
West Seven Mile, east of
Telegraph, Detroit, . Intement
will take place at Detroit
Memorial ParkWest.
and found no offensive or
improper conduct in Sanders'
interaction with city hall staff.
The investigating attorney did
suggest that any other complaints
about Sanders be referred to the
city legal counsel. Sanders had
declined to participate in the
investigation, he said in an earli-
er interview, to avoid any claims
of undue influence or criticismof
his input.
While pursuing the initial
allegations, however, the investi-
gator discovered and reported
multiple and serious problems
with management and adminis-
tration at city hall. In his report,
the investigator said he found a
staff fearful of recrimination and
who were subjected to ongoing
and overt discriminatory treat-
ment. Employees reportedly sent
the investigator photos of the city
manager leaving city hall and
driving immediately to the home
of a city council member follow-
ing the investigator's interview
questions. The investigator had
been questioning the failure of
the citymanager to followaccept-
ed disciplinary procedures with
regard to a specific employee.
Employees in city hall regarded
that alleged immediate visit as a
demonstration of an attempt to
cover up the actions of a favored
employee and clear evidence
that a specific councilman was
aiding in the effort to protect
both the administrator and
employee.
The report further addressed
the concern of employees regard-
ing actions of the city manager
citing the installation of a win-
dowed office door to ensure that
perceived eavesdroppers could
be observed, despite the exis-
tence of a security camera
already in place above the office
door.
Employees further sent a
photo of the same city council
member whowas visited at home
by the administrator following
them while they went to lunch,
parking his vehicle nearby at a
hair-braiding salon and coming
into the restaurant in an effort to
determine whether they were
meeting a fourth party. The
council member then watched
the restaurant from his parked
vehicle until the three left, they
told the investigator, in what they
perceived as an attempt to intim-
idate them.
The investigator dismissed
that claim as without proof of
intent on the part of the council-
man, but noted that this was
basis for serious concern as the
employees believe they work in
an atmospherewhere this type of
conduct is a possibility. The
employees believe they have no
recourse to equitable treatment,
as the citymanager and the coun-
cilman are solidly aligned.
The investigator warned the
city council members of the legal
jeopardy of ignoring any claims
of favoritism or discrimination.
He cautioned themregarding the
requirements, under the law, for
an employer to expeditiously
investigate any such claims. He
noted that the failure on the part
of the city, as an employer, to seri-
ously pursue such an investiga-
tion is a violation of both state
and federal lawand could lead to
legal exposure should an
employee file suit.
The investigator further cau-
tioned the council regarding the
comments of at least one council
member who has publicly criti-
cized the investigation and the
pursuit of the complaint. The
investigator, who is an attorney,
noted that such a public posture
could prove damaging to the
legal defense of any claim filed
against the city.
The investigator suggested
that the city council take appro-
priate and immediate action
regardless of the short-term
problems if the current city man-
ager is unable or not fully com-
mitted to making the necessary
changes in management style
andprocedures at city hall.
Several individuals asked to
comment on the report refused
citing the confidential nature of
the investigation.
Charges
FROM PAGE 1
Report
FROM PAGE 1
The investigator suggested
that the city council take
appropriate and immediate action...
”
Desmond Robinson
