Chief's hidden desire

From Kellie DePauli, Walled Lake:

Based on the recent actions of West Bloomfield Township Police Chief Michael Patton, one has to wonder whether he has a hidden desire to decimate the good reputation of Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and the police department, and undermine the public safety millage.

To examine some of these recent actions:

• He unilaterally and prematurely released information to the media concerning the traffic stop of a resident whom I know and respect;

• Before the Prosecutor’s Office decided whether to issue charges against that motorist, he provided a television stations and newspaper with details that would not have been admissible in any trial, and could have jeopardized the resident’s right to a fair trial;

• In an unprecedented maneuver, he released to the media a disciplinary report authorized against a police officer;

• He embarrassed another police officer who had been involved in an arrest by disclosing the private details of the disciplinary report contained in her personnel fire;

• He ridiculed two police officers by divulging the contents of text messages they inadvisably exchanged in which they disparaged a public official.

As an ardent supporter of law enforcement, I prefer that police officers are praised, rather than publicly criticized. As the leader of the police department, a police chief should inspire and motivate police officers. We all know that police work id dangerous, and working in a hostile, micromanaging environment is not beneficial to officers’ morale and safety, as well as the safety of the residents.

Editor’s Note: Patton didn’t “unilaterally” release information to the Spinal Column Newsweekly about the traffic stop. Our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was processed by the Clerk’s Office, after consultation with attorneys. In addition, Patton has refused to divulge to us the name of either person in vehicle pulled over during the traffic stop in question.