Police chief’s sudden departure raises more questions than answers
Obviously the big news in town this week is the sudden resignation of Police Chief Max Garbarino.
It was just last week that Garbarino was placed on what was called “administrative leave” pending an investigation. Garbarino announced his resignation this past Wednesday. Just what the investigation is/was about we will likely never know.
It’s a shame that Garbarino has left under such a cloud of suspicion. But he is not the first city official to leave office so mysteriously.
The handling of the matter has been just as frustrating.
There have been a lot of questions raised about the management style of City Manager Katrina Powell, which in this case was to say nothing and avoid the media.
It took a few days after Garbarino was suspended before Powell finally commented on the matter, but all she said she could say is that there is an investigation.
Some media reports have talked about possible missing documents. Powell added that she had an IT forensics expert looking into the matter.
Removing a police chief is a big deal. He is the city’s top law enforcer and when there are whiffs of accusations suggesting wrongdoing, it’s an even bigger deal.
Garbarino complained that Powell and the city attorney refused to tell him why he was suspended. There have been past investigations into city officials and suspensions, but none have been quite like this.
Garbarino has been a popular chief in the community and has gone out of his way to visit with many local groups and participate at their events.
The air of accusation and wrongdoing surrounding Garbarino will likely haunt him in this age of Internet access, but we caution everyone that there should be a presumption of innocence.
For all we know the investigation yielded nothing of consequence, and Garbarino just wanted to put this chapter of his life behind him. We wish him good luck and good health.
At age 35 he has many years ahead of him and one day this will be a mere footnote in his life.
For Hamtramck, now is the time to move forward.
Perhaps what hits a bigger nerve for residents and elected officials is that Hamtramck has just emerged from a financial crisis that required a state-appointed emergency manager to be in charge for the last 18 months.
The last thing we needed was the removal of a well-liked police chief.
Hamtramck has survived many crises, and it can survive this one.
6 Responses to Police chief’s sudden departure raises more questions than answers
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Roadman
March 14, 2015 at 2:18 am
“Garbarino complained that Powell and the city attorney refused to tell him why he was suspended…”
Was the “walk-out” driven by the city attorney and was Powell simply “following orders”.
Which “city attorney” was Maxwell Garbarino talking about?
Why was the EM’s budget for attorney fees doubled to $400,000 last year?
Is this simply a “power play” by Katrina Powell to rid someone with whom she has a personality conflict – or is there “meat” behind these “secret” allegations.
onu singh
March 14, 2015 at 7:26 pm
somebody tell me what’s going in
dan
March 17, 2015 at 11:00 am
“The last thing we needed was the removal of a well-liked police chief.”
Well-liked by who? Certainly not anyone in his department. Good riddance.
Concerned Citizen
March 18, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Wow, still haven’t gotten over the jealousy of achieving above and beyond what obviously you’re capable of Dan? Cry a river once you get someone who could care less about the City and the Department, and yes better watch your back and tread lightly in your department.
Richard Dickson
March 20, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Innocent man usually don’t resign. The question is who did he do favor by resigning. I wonder who else he saved by resigning.
hakim
March 21, 2015 at 5:06 pm
He saved the fat guy in the council miah,they both did something.ticket fraud and news don’t lie.they are no good junk in a good city.