Tuesday, October 9 2012 11:29 AM EDT2012-10-09 15:29:02 GMT
Detroit's top cop has announced his retirement. Ralph Godbee is leaving his post in the midst of a sex scandal involving a subordinate.
Detroit's top cop has announced his retirement. Ralph Godbee is leaving his post in the midst of a sex scandal involving a subordinate.
By Charlie LeDuff Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- With Detroit struggling to pay its bills, the Fox 2 Problem Solvers uncover some payments that will have you shaking your head. This is a story of more money being wasted.
You remember Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee caught up last October loving, leaving and breaking the hearts of his female subordinates? And then he got canned by Mayor Bing, who allowed him to retire.
"Chief Godbee has submitted a letter announcing his retirement effective immediately," Bing said in October of last year.
Well then how come Godbee is still getting paid by a city that can't pay its cops, can't pay its firefighters and can't pay its bills?
"I'd love to know where's the money that is being paid to him. I'd love to know where's the money that we have to give to all these people to do restructuring 65 times. What do you do? What am I supposed to do? And I have to scrub toilets and work side jobs to make my bills," says a Detroit police officer.
Now nobody has seen Godbee around the place doing any work, but according to payroll stubs obtained by Fox 2 News, Godbee still gets regular pay and holiday pay. He earns vacation days and sick leave. Now sometimes he fills out his check with banked time from when he was not supposedly retired.
"Right now he is not being paid by the police and fire retirement system, and according to the reports that I have in front of me here, it's obvious that he is still being carried on the books," says Mark Diaz, president of the Detroit Police Officers Association.
But the mayor said "effective immediately".
"I don't understand how we're paying for two police chiefs," says Jerome Warfield, chairman of the Detroit Police Commission.
Should they just kick him to the curb?
"Again, that's the mayor and his staff, and I think he will be better able to answer that question."
Bing's press guy had no comment.
Now current chief or former chief or co-chief or whatever Godbee is isn't the only horn dog drawing a public check in Detroit.
Nude texter and Third Circuit Court Judge Wade McCree got into his own hot water in December after we revealed that the buff barrister had impregnated a young woman who had a child support case before him.
He made a fool of himself and the court, but even though the court is broke, they are still paying the judge $12,000 a month.
Now that made the Judicial Tenure Commission so mad that we found out they asked the Michigan Supreme Court to suspend McCree without pay while they investigate. Highly unusual.
Now let me say this loud and clear. Good governance starts from the top, and if you want to get things fixed, you know where to look.
Friday, June 7 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-06-07 21:49:09 GMT
Secret surveillance allegations. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Allegations of secret surveillance of the civilian police commissioner. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected police officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief, James Craig, succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Thursday, June 6 2013 11:39 PM EDT2013-06-07 03:39:12 GMT
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had an officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had a Detroit police officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
Monday, June 3 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-06-04 01:49:36 GMT
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Charlie LeDuff: Off The ChainCharlie LeDuff: Off The ChainMore>>
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Friday, May 3 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-03 22:10:10 GMT
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
Sunday, April 21 2013 9:33 AM EDT2013-04-21 13:33:35 GMT
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Monday, April 15 2013 7:21 AM EDT2013-04-15 11:21:31 GMT
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
Friday, April 5 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-04-06 00:43:42 GMT
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan -- as he has been called for the past five months since Chief Ralph Godbee was bounced from office -- was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Monday, April 1 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-04-01 13:07:47 GMT
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Monday, March 25 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-03-25 13:52:46 GMT
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Monday, March 18 2013 10:12 AM EDT2013-03-18 14:12:24 GMT
Many people are concerned about Belle Isle's future. The EFM is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to review the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
Now that Detroit has an emergency financial manager, a lot of people are concerned about the future of Belle Isle. Kevyn Orr is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to look over the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
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