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No. 40
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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October 10 – 16, 2013
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
The
third
annual
HalloWayne event has been
planned for 4-9 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 26 throughout downtown
Wayne
See page 5.
Constitution Day Sept. 17 at
Wick Elementary was marked
with a visit from Corporal
Antonio Campbell-Fultz of the
UnitedStatesMarineCorps.
See page 4.
When the Plymouth
Township Compensation
CommissionmetMonday, their
goal was to agree onhowmuch
the elected township officials
shouldbe paidnext year.
See page 3
.
Those who haven't pur-
chased a Halloween pumpkin
yet can find exactly the right
size and shape at Maybury
Farm where the entire pump-
kin crop is on sale at half price.
See page 4.
Scores of well wishers from
across North America arrived
during Labor Day weekend to
join Alma Kirchner for her
100thbirthday celebration.
See page 2.
Vol. 128, No. 40
Vol. 66, No. 40
Vol. 66, No. 40
Vol. 13, No. 40
Vol. 128, No. 40
Vol. 66, No. 40
Vol. 66, No. 40
Inkster based Starfish
Family Services (Starfish), has
been awarded a $50,000 grant
from the Ethel and James
Flinn Foundation to expand
its integratedhealth care
See page 3.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
A recent political forum
hosted by a group that had
already endorsed opposing
candidates was not attended
by the four incumbents for
WestlandCityCouncil.
See page 4.
The Canton Chamber of
Commerce selected Plymouth
attorney Joe Barone as the
Business Person of the Year
for 2013.
See page 5.
Vol. 13, No. 40
A lawsuit alleging civil rights violations
filed by a Plymouth Township police officer
resulted in the suspension of her supervisor
and two other officers last week.
Brittany DeFrain, 24, sued the township
after her one-year probationary period was
extended as a disciplinarymeasure by Police
Chief Thomas Tiderington. DeFrain resigned
under protest Feb. 15, 2013 and subsequently
filed the lawsuit in June. That suit has now
been moved into federal court. In her suit,
DeFrain alleges that her involvement in a
dating relationship with another officer was
the reason she was given for the extension of
her probationary period. Her one-year pro-
bationary period would have ended Feb. 20,
2013. Her suit alleges that only she was sin-
gled out for disciplinary action and that no
such action was taken against the male offi-
cer with whom she was sexually involved.
She alleges that Plymouth Township, as her
employer, committed sexual discrimination
and marital status discrimination against her
by extending her probationary period for an
extra sixmonths.
Her suit claims that Tiderington told her
at the time of the interview during which he
extended her probation that “he and police
department management had concluded that
plaintiff possessed andhad demonstrated the
ability to perform the job of sworn police offi-
cer.” She also stated in her lawsuit that the
extension of her probation was based solely
on her relationship with another officer. She
is seeking compensation for lost wages, bene-
fits, employment opportunities and emotion-
al distress.
DeFrain's attorney, Jeffrey J. Ellison, sub-
poenaed records from the police department
as part of her lawsuit. Allegedly, some of the
emails and text messages discovered in that
probe resulted in the recent suspensions.
See
Lawsuits,
page 3
\Romulus police have arrest-
ed Franklin Dujuan-Warren
Anderson, 24, of Detroit in con-
nection with a fatal shooting on
Cherry Street Sept. 19.
Police were called to the
address at about 8:45 p.m. by the
ex-girlfriend and co-worker of
the deceased who went to the
home to check onhim.
She found him deceased in
the living room. When uni-
formed officers arrived at the
home in the area of Middlebelt
and Eureka roads in response to
her 911 call, they discovered the
deceased man who had appar-
ently suffered several gunshot
wounds.
The victim's pick-up truck and
motorcycle were also reported
missing.
Following their investigation,
Romulus police arrested
AndersonSept. 29.
Police said at the time that
they did not think this was a ran-
domcrime.
Anderson was arraigned in
the 34th District Court on
charges including felony mur-
der; murder first degree - pre-
meditated; firearms possession
by felon; felony firearm and
habitual offender.
A not-guilty plea was entered
and bond set at $1 million cash.
He was scheduled to be in court
for a preliminary examination
on the charges thisweek.
Police have not released the
name of the victim.
The future of the Westland
Summer Festival is unknown fol-
lowing the decision of the organiz-
ing committee to disband.
Last week the volunteer group
issued a statement announcing
that the financial situation and
other challenges were forcing
them to disband the Westland
Summer Festival Committee. The
group, a nonprofit operated by a
board of directors, had organized
the event formore than 43 years.
The festival was usually organ-
ized around the Fourth of July and
included live bands, community
groups, a carnival midway and a
fireworks display. The committee
funded the expenses of the event
through donations, sponsorships,
vendor fees and commissions. The
event received no direct financial
support from the city, according to
the announcement of the dissolu-
tion of the group. The group also
cited the reduced land space
available to them resulting in a
smaller and less profitable festival
with fewer spots available for ven-
dors and attractions. They also
said that the lagging economy and
less-than-ideal weather during the
past few years impacted atten-
dance and revenue.
Costs to provide required
police during the event were also
a factor, the group said, noting that
police overtime during the festival
resulted in invoices from the city
for $10,000.
...allegedly the officer
with whom DeFrain
was romantically involved.
”
A rainy start didn't slow down
or dampen spirits of runners from
7 to 81 in the first Heroes onHines
Run last Saturday.
Wayne County hosted the inau-
gural half marathon and 5K run,
honoring first responders of
police, fire and EMS personnel
who have lost their lives while on
duty within Wayne County. The
county, in partnership with
RunningFit, produced the event.
“The memorial and the annual
Heroes on Hines races are power-
ful remembrances to the brave
men and women who lost their
lives while serving as first respon-
ders in aWayne County communi-
ty,” said Wayne County Executive
Robert Ficano.
Runners and attendees includ-
edWayneCounty officials, mayors,
police, fire, EMS personnel and
family members of those who lost
their lives in the line of duty.
Participants received a technical
race shirt for all distances and fin-
isher's medal for half marathon
distance.
The Heroes on Hines course
traveled through the western
Wayne communities of Plymouth
and Northville and the northwest
end of Hines Drive. Both the Half
Marathon and 5K started and fin-
ished at the newly-constructed
memorial site.
Proceeds from the annual race
go to support and maintain the
First Responders Memorial in
Hines Park, which is scheduled to
be dedicated in a ceremony at 1
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. The memo-
rial will initially display the
names of 401 police, fire and EMS
personnel from Wayne County
communities who died in the line
of duty. The memorial includes
monuments, seat walls, concrete
walkways, a paver plaza, site fur-
nishings, plantings as well parking
and lighting.
The still-under-construction
memorial is located at Haggerty
and Edward Hines Drive in
PlymouthTownship.
Ficano said he was very
pleased at the turnout of runners
for the event.
It was Ficano's idea to erect a
lasting memorial to the first
responders after beingmoved by a
minister's sermon shortly after the
9-11 attack inNewYork.
“Just the picture taken shortly
after the first plane crashed into
the World Trade Center showing
the people running downstairs
while the firefighters were run-
ning up, is what really inspired
me to do something,”Ficano said.
Ficano ran in the 5Kalongwith
his senior communications man-
agerKevinByrnes.
There were 1,130 pre-regis-
tered runners with 30 from other
states and four from other coun-
tries. The half marathon finishers
received medals marking their
participation in the event.
Heroes on Hines
Inaugural run honors memory of
past emergency first responders
Township suspends 3 police officers
Westland Summer Festival Board disbands
Sydney Hamilton, 8, of Canton Township came in fifth place in the
5K 1-9 age class. She was congratulated by Wayne County
Executive Robert ficano and by her parents, both community area
firefighters.
Mary Stempin of Canton
Township was the third place 5K
winner in the 60-64 year old
class. This was Stempin's third
race.
John Emley of Canton
Township, the first place 5K win-
ner, receives his award from
Wayne County Executive
Robert Ficano.
Habitual offender charged in death
Franklin Dujuan-Warren Anderson