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Village exits pact with Walled Lake for police services
The Wolverine Lake Village Council has decided to pull out of a joint police services agreement with Walled Lake that was set to expire June 30, 2013.
The decision was unanimously approved at the Village Council’s Wednesday, April 13 meeting.
The shared policing agreement fell short of a full merger between the village and city’s police departments, but included combined purchasing of police equipment including vehicles, weapons, ammunition, office supplies and other shared services.
According to Village Council President John Magee, the council’s decision was made after Wolverine Lake Police Captain John Ellsworth forwarded a new proposal to the Police Sharing Committee, which is comprised of Magee, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Sienkiewicz, and Councilwoman Linda Champagne.
“We’ve agreed to go our separate ways,” Magee said. “It was unanimously approved and we passed a motion to inform Walled Lake that we plan to dissolve the agreement.”
Apparently there have been some rumblings at the top of the command chain that has made the arrangement difficult.
“The dual command structure has been problematic over time and we couldn’t resolve that and get to a single-chief structure,” Magee said.
“It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out,” said Walled Lake City Councilman Casey Ambrose. “The concept in theory had a lot of good possibilities, but it’s tough to keep all the stars lined up.”
Magee said when the agreement initially took effect, Walled Lake still housed a prisoner lock-up facility and dispatching center. Gradually, Walled Lake contracted with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department for dispatch services and with Wixom for prisoner lock-up services.
“We thought there would be more patrol coverage, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case,” Magee said. “By bringing patrol back in house, we will have a tighter focus on patrolling Wolverine Lake.”
While the shared services agreement allowed Wolverine Lake officers more flexibility for vacations and court time, the new proposal provides for a staff of five full-time officers and two part-timers to fill in, as well as two part-time marine patrol officers.
According to Magee, the preliminary budget for bringing back village policing for 2011-12 is pegged at $633,987, compared to the current fiscal year budget of $729,030.
The difference in the budgets includes a portion of former Wolverine Police Chief Joe George’s salary, the retirement of Detective Bob McGhee and allocating record-keeping duties to Wixom.
Ellsworth looked at the other option of contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for police services, but costs were higher, estimated at $712,000, excluding additional costs for marine patrols.
The crux of the discord however, and the reason why Wolverine Lake is severing the agreement with Walled Lake, is control.
Ellsworth will remain in charge as captain of the Wolverine Lake department, since the Village Charter doesn’t require a police chief to run the department. However, now that the two departments will separate, it appears George — who was recently hired as Orchard Lake’s police chief — was a casualty of an ongoing drama.
George tendered his resignation on Sept. 30 once Wolverine Lake and Walled Lake officials agreed to have one chief supervise both police departments. However, Walled Lake officials reportedly closed the door on hiring a new chief, and opted to leave the department in the hands of a captain, a move that allegedly didn’t sit well with elected officials in Wolverine Lake.
“It just hasn’t worked well for a variety of reasons — some perhaps salvageable while others inherent in the structure,” Magee said.
He also noted that Wolverine Lake couldn’t absorb Walled Lake’s personnel legacy costs in the long run.
Walled Lake City Manager L. Dennis Whitt didn’t respond to phone calls seeking comment prior to press time.
15 Responses to Village exits pact with Walled Lake for police services
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John Dawe
April 20, 2011 at 4:10 pm
This is not for publishing. It is for Leslie Shepard In reference to her article about Wixom softball fields. I sent a note to your editor (no respons or simply ignored) regarding our league (one of the two mentioned in your article). It was about our 40 year anniversary as (as far as I know) the longest running independent league in the Lakes Area. Would still like to discuss with you. I called yesterday when you were out and they said you would get back to me today. Didn’r see anything! I’m beginning to wonder just what everybpody over there are doing. You don’t respond, the editor doesn’t bother to acknowledge letters, etc. I also have a bit of information about the Wixom situation in her column.
John Dawe, 248-701-4892.
Tommy T.
April 21, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Ahhh more politically motivated wrangling at it’s best and really disappointing news all around in this one.
So Capt. Arrogant…. I know it all wanna be Chief Ellsworth was the one forwarding the propopsal to the council to make the split. WOW… How fitting and how NOT suprising. John knows Paul is 10 times the officer he is (regardless of how much longer he’s been a cop than Shakinas) and this is the childish crap he pulls after being passed over for the chief position in the joint Walled / Wolverine Lake.
Point in case….. After recently helping / tipping off the joint PD to a recent rash of break in’s in the area that resulted in the arrests of 2 locals for nearly a dozen crimes, visited the PD to check on the status, provide more info and help retrieve items that were stolen from my neighbors, 1st thing Ellsworth said as he was processing 1 to 2 days of paperwork and property tags was….. “Gee, thanks…. Like I did not have anything better to do today”. Where on the other hand Shakinas actually being the “true professional” actually took the time out of his day to personally visit my home and personally thank us for helping not him, but the “entire department” out. Sorry gang…. But I had known and respected Ellsworth for many many many a year….. Up until that comment. Then again though….. He was Joe Georges 1st hire and #1 “politics and lazyness 1st” protoge.
As for Joe George being awarded the job as chief of Orchard Lake……. HA…. SUCKERS… Won’t take for you folks to learn that whilst he may be a great cop, he’s nothing more than a political figurehead far more concerned with “schmoozing” his buddies and chronies at the local diners alllll day long any more, than actually putting in a real days work as a cop, let alone a chief.
As the article states here, part of a police budget for the village will consist of “partial pay” for former Chief George (Or a 2nd “pension” that he now collects from a local municipality) and after a few short years at orchard lake, there will be a 3rd and much much larger one. So 2 pensions and a PHAT salary as the orchard lake chief, Mr George “collects” what…… About 250k in pension, pay and other Perks”………. WAIT…. “benefits” from the local taxpayers. What a complete and total waste and a prime example of why Michigan has become dead last in the state in wasteful spending, unemployment, foreclosures and just plain “waste”.
Bill
April 22, 2011 at 11:07 am
Live in the Village since 1988 and prior to the joint services agreement patrol services with Walled Lake, police services and visibility was POOR and the only time you saw our former chief was when he was playing politician on the police boat during the fireworks or spending each and every morning of his work day at Big Boy up in town doing little to nothing.
One huge issue the article does not mention is the financial impact Mr Ellsworths bruised ego and reccomendation to exit the joint services police pact will cost both cities in lost revenue from the state’s directive and joint services fund sharing initative. Don’t worry fellow residents. Your Village council already knows they can’t outright raise taxes, but they sure have perfected the art of rope a dope 101 and will get all the monies they need by tacking on yet another fee to your water bill, remove garbage collection from the general fund and bill residents out right for the services or heaven knows what the next one will be. Make no doubts though. There’s another HUGE tax shift / increase or rope a dope on the way, and us residents are going to end up paying the price because one individual did not get his way, nor did he deserve to.
As a resident of the Village, not so certain I nor many others care to have our own department back, or a bitter and angry man leading a department meant to protect us simply because he did not get his way under the joint services pact.
Alice Benstein
April 22, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Fed up with Walled Lake
Because Walled Lake picked an unqualified amateur to put at the top of the command chain the Wolverine Lake Council wisely decided to cut ties with all the ethically challenged Walled Lake Police officers and put a seasoned professional, with over 26 years of police experience, in complete charge of its own department. Because of a bad decision made by Walled Lake and a good decision made by Magee, Sienkiewicz and Champagne, the Village has better records keeping, better police service, better patrol, better officer discipline and a better Command Officer than it has ever had.
I. Noes
April 22, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Com’on John, don’t start again! Joe Georges was the best ever and you undermined him for your own gain. But, justice prevails, Joe’s got a real chiefs job and Wolverine puddle is stuck with you and it is filled with invasive weeds. You’re a JOKE!!!!!! I can’t wait till they call you out on your past and present.Let us all hope they get rid of the invasive weeds too. Tick Tick Tick!
former resident
April 23, 2011 at 9:43 am
Hey Alice…. How much interaction and personal / off hours interaction have you had with both Ellsworth and Shakinas???? Fortunately and also unfortunately I’ve know BOTH since they BOTH started working in this area and can tell you 1st hand that while in the beginning had a lot of respect for Ellsworth, quickly learned that he’s a Joe George protoge to the letter who’s only concern is HIM, HIMSELF and what HE can gain. His excessive tardiness and involvement in Families United for the Troops and their mission to protect our supply of oil shows where his true priorities are…. Yeeep. Politics and capitalizing on the untimely death of his son Justin.
Shakinas (just like another close friend who’s chief of a MAJOR city in Wayne County) also had a similary quick rise to being chief, but did so only because they were the most qualified, most dedicated, MOST ETHICAL and overall best person for the job. Paul’s commitment to integrity, ethics, hard work and helping the residents he serves (and not his own personal agenda) has far and away made him the best person for the job.
Joked with Paul several times over the years that one day he’d end up being chief and his reply always was…. Naw… Not sure I want the headache that goes with all the petty political bickering in this city. Crying shame though that after a chief was picked, Mr Ellsworths TRUE MOTIVATIONS, priority on his own agenda and ability to allow his BRUISED EGO to control his ability to make clear and honest decisions, well as those that are for the benefit of the PEOPLE HE SERVES and pay his salaray, and not his own personal ambitions.
As for Joe George. Known him all my life (mostly outside of work I may add) and while our family has always respected him, his hard work and accomplishments, when he became chief of Wolverine Lake was dissapointed in both his 180 change from being a hard working cop, to being that of your typical do little, but make it look like you’re saving the world slimbag politician who’s only concern is what and how much $$$ you can bilke the municipalities out of. Joe’s progressive lack of integrity is also evident in his several marriages and divorces, well as the fact that his last two pieces of “arm candy” were both younger than his own kids !!
The Village department has always been kind of a joke (and I’ve lived in the area since 88) and have to say that under joint services, visibility, quality of police service and commitment to the residents increased 4 fold… Now with ever increasing crime, declining tax revenues and the potential loss of plenty of $$$ from the state for existing a joint services pact, both the Village well as Walled Lake stand to lose plenty of state mandated funds……………… And for what…… One mans personal agenda and bruised ego.
Sorry… But even if we have to take a loss, the petty politics and personal politics have become far far far far to much in the Village. Toss in a return to the old days where when you were in the village and a walled lake car would ALWAYS show up at your door 5 minutes or so before a village car (a joke amongst the citizens since we’d been here since 88), believe our own personal agenda of protecting my families safety not only from a lack of police presence, but also the political bickering and childish ways of people who claim to be “Professional Adults”
tommyt
April 23, 2011 at 9:49 am
Magee, Sienkiewicz and Champagne…. Good decision…… Ya…. 3 of the same group of stone cold liars that told you 30,000 gallons of raw sewage dissapated from Wolverine Lake in record time. Sorry…. Politics as usual and yet ANOTHER black eye on the Village.
Hate to say it… But we moved from the Village to a quiet little community in Northern Oakland county that’s patrolled by the county sheriffs, and can tell you 1st hand that (other than when we had the joint police service), the sheriffs are more visibile, do a better job, respond faster and have all the resources than the Village could ever hope to. So just why does the village “pawn off” any/all of their detective services when a major crime happens in the area ????? Yeeep…. It’s because
the Village PD always was and always will be far to inept to handle it themselves.
I know why the village broke ties
April 24, 2011 at 9:39 am
The reason that wolverine lake split with walled lake is simple. Walled lake appointed a chief and a deputy chief and never even told wolverine lake that they were going to do this. It was a slap in the face to wolverine lake as they were in partnership together and were to be looking for a one chief for both departments. It comes down to trust and wolverine lake can not trust walled lake. It has nothing to do with the caliber of the appointments that walled lake made they are good professional choices. It is how it was done. No honor the process and that lake of honor lays with the walled lake council. You don’t make a decision of this importance with out talking to your partner first. As for Ellsworth causing this it is just not true.
J. Colby
April 24, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Talk about lack of trust or lack of honor, how about the betraying of the Wolverine residents their own officials.
Chief Joe George ran a professional department for Wolverine Lake. He was ousted after all the talk about having a joint Police Chief, made by John Ellsworth and Wolverine elected people. Now they have NO POLICE CHIEF and the village clerk is in charge of the police department! They says she is always on top of things so we can assume that the captain got his promotion and huge pay raise for honorable reasons.
I. T. Stinkz
April 24, 2011 at 2:39 pm
So now we know that when Walled Lake hired a new deputy chief and promoted a captain to Police Chief, that that move didn’t sit well with Ellsworth and the elected officials in Wolverine Lake that he commands. Ah…, Captain AA was ready with a crack management plan. But wait…now Wolverine has no Police Chief, only an illegitimate Captain who gets paid big dollar to run a private enterprise at taxpayers expense! Talk of lack of honor from a man who has stolen the honor of so many. Ellsworth is a “fragmite” in the police chiefs meetings, an invasive weed who doesn’t belong. He has destroyed the natural habitat everywhere he has been and Chief Joe George was a casualty of that ongoing invasive Ellsworth dishonor. There was a completed lack of honor in the way Joe George was treated and Chief George deserved better. Now he has better and Wolverine is left with more raw sewage. Hold your voting noses this all stinks!!!!
Shaky dont make it
April 24, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Shakinas got permoted to cheif because he was a kissasss. He was so far up the City Counsil’s colon that he was givin them uniform allowence. Ellsworth do not tolerate interference and is more expereinced to run a cumbined department and if he had been picked to be the joint cheif none of this crap would be hapening. Shakinas is called Skaky by his own oficers and it was John who was runnin the department and not letin the politicians step over their boundrys. Wolverine oficers say Shakinas doesn’t make it more than six months.
Vincent Maxwell
April 24, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Something smells in the lake and it ain’t the raw sewage. So Alice, if the “crux of the discord” with the shared police service and the reason why Wolverine is “severing the agreement” with Walled Lake, is CONTROL then why did Ellsworth not get appointed to Chief of Police? What is a little title change a problem if they have already given him the large pay and benefits? Something smells worse than a drunken policeman’s breath!!!
Clif Wikens
April 24, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Ellsworth wants control alright, but if he is in charge with only few months time as a captain because the Village Charter doesn’t require a police chief to run the department then why was he jumped from union Sergeant to a union Captain with those big pay raises and union benefits? He has done a pefect con job on the unspecting Wolverine residents who pay big for his outside activities. Always unavailable except to get his name in the media. What do his salary and benefits cost the taxpayer of Wolverine?
N. Bond
April 25, 2011 at 9:37 am
Sounds like Wolverine rejected Walled Lake choice as chief. Couldn’t Shakinas have served as the joint commander? He’s the real professional with no baggae. But no. It about control. For Wolverine its not only the cost of paying Ellsworth to collect money on taxpayers dime its the cost of Wolverine credibility. Ist way over 100 thousand a year and counting. Here a guy who has a known substance abuse problem who is left in charge of a police department and the evidence locker. Too much temptation for a loser of his kind. Bad idea.
A. Lot
April 25, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Ellsworth is the kind of turd that makes Wolverine Lake a cesspool and a laughing stock. He must have some magic on the elected people. He certainly has no police skills or common sense. No thanks to that choice.