Hey, hey, my my
Detroit's scandals never die
(Thanks for the idea, Neil Young!)
Well, for a while there it looked like the scandal and embarrassment typically surrounding Detroit city officials might have died down. Were we going to get a blessed respite, at least for several months; perhaps even A YEAR? It sure seemed like it.
Until this story came along. Warren Evans, the former Wayne County Sheriff and Detroit Chief of Police (until Mayor Dave Bing fired him a month ago), was dating one of his staffers, Lt. Monique Patterson (seen here with Evans) before he got the ax, and still is seeing her. Ironically, the married Ralph Godbee, the man named interim police chief after Evans was shown the door, was seeing the exact same subordinate before Evans was. And he texted Lt. Patterson many lovey-dovey messages. Patterson then provided those text messages to Evans' attorney. Got that?
Evans got the ax primarily because he was getting carried away sucking up to the crew from "The First 48," the Arts & Entertainment police reality show. Not only did he allow a film crew to accompany his special forces officers in a raid on an east side Detroit home to arrest a man wanted for murder on a warrant (a 7-year-old girl was accidentally shot and killed during the raid); but he also boldly posed with an AK-47 in front of a notorious Detroit eyesore, the once-opulent Michigan Central train station that has been abandoned, looted, and left to the destruction of Mother Nature for over 20 years.
As the first story I linked to indicates, Evans is now trying to get a job with the Detroit Police Department in some capacity (obviously not as chief). Evans seems to think the text messages from his flame showing Mr. Godbee's romantic interest in her will vindicate him. But, EARTH TO EVANS: You had a romantic and sexual relationship with a subordinate employee. That is an absolute no-no in the private OR public sector (unless, I suppose, you own the company and no one can fire you.....or, for that matter, unless you're Bill Clinton. But I digress.)
Detroit is loaded with talented athletes, musicians, artists, and writers. But alas, it also suffers from an overabundance of loose cannons without an ounce of common sense or integrity when it comes to exhibiting proper conduct in public office, or conducting due diligence before deciding whom to vote for in elections.
This is a seriously flawed city, but one that I refuse to write off. (Sort of like a son or daughter who continuously gets in trouble and careens from one fiasco to another, yet you know he or she is intelligent, talented, and has a good heart.)
It's gut-wrenching, and it's a long-term project that requires the patience and perseverance of Job. But it isn't something you just leave for dead and walk away from.
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