DSAM has an executive board meeting scheduled for February 20th. Click below to download the agenda:

This article comes from Attorney Mark A. Porter of Map-Law.com

Greetings to All,

Below are 3-articles about the indictment and trial outcome of aSergeant in the Highland Park PD.

On January 31, 2008, I received a phone call at the office from an HPPD officer who was calling to talk about the fact that all uniforms, weapons, and other equipment had to be personally purchased by each officer. At the end, he said, "Oh by the way -- the FBI came to my house the other day and interviewed me about an investigation into one of my sergeants for punching a prisoner. They said there may be a grand jury and I may be called to testify -- is there anything I should know about that?"

Hit the "Read More" link for the rest of the article

Senator Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) has proposed legislation that would merge the Sheriffs' Co-Ordinating and Training Council (SCTC) to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). The proposed legislation would abolish the SCTC but keep the Local Corrections Officers Advisory Board in place. The Advisory Board would report to MCOLES. Under the proposed legislation, MCOLES would have oversite of Local Corrections Officer training and training monies. Another proposed bill by Senator Richardville would give DSAM representation on the MCOLES.

The legislation is designed to address Michigan Sheriffs failure to provide statutorily mandated training to Local Corrections Officers. Statistics published by the Training Council show that in 2006, 35.8% of sheriffs complied with training standards: 2007 saw 42% in compliance, and in 2008, 65.4%. This lack of compliance calls into question what the book in fee training monies are being spent on. Freedom of Information Act requests on Sheriffs and County Boards reveal that there are sheriffs who are non compliant with either the mandatory recertification requirements of Local Correction Officers and/or expenditure of local book in fee monies.  

To learn more about this download and read the letters below:

• Letter to DSAM Members from Executive Director Larry Orlowski
• Letter to Michigan Sheriffs from SCTC Executive Secretary James Reed