A Detroit Commissioner is trying to get justice after a police officer was caught with cocaine in his system.
In July, a Detroit police officer was ordered to take a drug test after consistently showing up late to work. It was revealed that his test was positive for cocaine, and the officer was suspended but continued to receive a salary.
Chief James White is in a battle with the Board of Police Commissioners to suspend the officer without pay, but has been denied.
On August 4, Commissioner Willie Bell moved to deny White’s suspension motion, instead offering to stop the officer’s pay but continue his health insurance. Commissioners Linda Bernard, Bryan Ferguson, Rev. Jim Holly, Rev. Cedric Banks, and Willie Burton were in attendance and voted not to suspend the officer.
“I believe in the gospel of a second chance,” said Commissioner Holley.
Commissioners Jesus Hernandez and QuanTez Pressley were the only two to side with White.
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According to WXYZ, Police Commissioner Ricardo Moore, who did not attend the August 4 voting, believes taking away his pay is the right thing to do.
It’s somewhat of a double standard,” Moore said. “If this happened to a citizen, they would be fired, they would be prosecuted.”
Cocaine possession in Detroit is usually not taken lightly and includes severe penalties if you are charged.
According to Michigan Criminal Lawyer, “Between 450 grams and one kilogram is a felony, punishable by fines of up to $500,000 and a max of 30 years. Up to 450 grams of cocaine is a felony, punishable by fines as high as $250,000 and up to 20 years.”
Moore continued, “What would the public think if they knew that the board is rubber stamping cocaine usage, in a sense?”
The board is set to vote on keeping or taking the officer’s pay on August 25th.
