A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
October 6, 2011
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
- R
OMULUS
Arrests will not affect programs
The money that was allegedly
misused by fiveRomulus police offi-
cers and former Chief Michael St.
Andre will not impact city services,
according toMayor AlanLambert.
Lambert, responding to rumors
he has heard since the former chief,
his wife and five detectives were
arrested last week and chargedwith
several felony counts, said that no
city services would be cut because
of the situation.
“It will not affect the general
fund,” said Lambert. “I've already
heard that, because this happened,
now we're going to have cut differ-
ent programs. I just want to let the
residents know this was not taxpay-
er dollars; it forfeituremoney.”
Forfeiture money is money that
is seized from criminals during the
course of an investigation or arrest-
usually in investigations into drug
activity. Michigan law allows police
departments to use funds seized for
capital purchases and, if pending
legislation is approved, for opera-
tions, aswell.
St. Andre, along with Det.
Sergeant Richard Balzer, Det.
Richard Landy, Det. Donald
Hopkins, Det. Jeremy Channells
and Det. Larry Droege, were
charged last week with several
felony counts ranging from intimi-
dating witnesses, to misconduct to
embezzlement, as the result of a
three-year investigation by the
Michigan State Police into the use
of the forfeiture funds. Wayne
County Prosecutor Kym Worthy
alleged that the some of the funds
were channeled into a hair salon
owned by St. Andre's wife, Sandra,
who was also arrested and as much
as $40,000 was used by the charged
officers to pay for marijuana, alco-
hol andprostitutes.
St. Andre had recently resigned
from the department, citing health
concerns in his family. The five offi-
cers have been suspended without
pay, pending the outcome of the
court proceedings.
Their alleged actions, however,
won't affect the services offered to
citizens and they will not affect the
job performed by the remainder of
the Romulus Police Department,
saidLambert.
“It's an unfortunate situation, but
it's not thewhole police department.
It's just certain officers,” said
Lambert. “Our new chief is already
making a lot of changes to make
sure this doesn't happen again.”
Sheriff'sDepartment in 2008.
“I've made my way around the
police department. I've talked to
your officers; to your lieutenants,”
the new chief told the council
members and crowd. “They are all
eager to move forward. Everyone
is happy that this investigation is
over.”
Dickerson brings more than 25
years of law enforcement with
him. He was the chief of adminis-
trative operations with the Wayne
County Sheriff's Department, and
was responsible for accountability,
police discipline, the budget and
the special operation teams
among other duties. He is a former
WayneCityCouncilman, too.
“His background in law
enforcement is very impressive
and he already knows our city,”
said Romulus Mayor Alan
Lambert, who hired Dickerson. “I
know he will lead our Police
Department with the same vigor
and demeanor that made him
such an asset in the Sheriff's
Department for somany years.”
Dickerson has attended
Schoolcraft College and Eastern
Michigan University and earned
an associate's degree in criminal
justice. He has completed a one-
year leadership fellowship at
Michigan State University. A grad-
uate of the FBI National Academy,
Dickerson was named Wayne
County employee of the year in
2005 for developing, coordinating
and leading the Sheriff's Office
Hurricane Katrina Response
Teamdown inNewOrleans.
Since 2008, he has been work-
ing in the private sector for a web-
based training company.
He said the news that greeted
Romulus officials and citizens last
week was unfortunate, but the
completion of the investigation
means that he can help the police
departmentmake a clean start.
“Now I can lead without any
cloud over the police department,”
saidDickerson.
“I'mgoing to bring some integri-
ty. I'm going to direction I'm going
to bring accountability. I'm going to
bring direction. I'm going to bring
responsibility and, most impor-
tantly, I'm going to bring communi-
ty service. That's what my goal is
going to be. That's what my leader-
ship is going to be. I want to make
this police department the best it
canbe.”
Chief
FROM PAGE 1
The technology park is ready to
accommodate more investment by
these high-tech companies, and
already has more than 20 parcels
of 10 to 60 acres ready for develop-
ment, with established technology-
related companies nearby, Heise
said.
The property includes approxi-
mately 47.6 acres and seven build-
ings of about 435,200 square feet.
The original facility was construct-
ed in the 1980s and closed in May
of 2009. Michigan State Industries
continued their operation in a por-
tion of the facility until August
2010.
The Department of Corrections
reported that approximately
$100,000 is expended each year on
maintenance/security costs for the
Scott Correctional Facility and the
adjacent vacant facility in
PlymouthTownship.
“This legislation is one exam-
ple of how government can
remove obstacles to economic
development so that the private
sector can create jobs inMichigan.
The sale of this property will
remove the state from responsibil-
ity for maintenance and upkeep,
removing that burden from the
taxpayers and opening the landup
for private development,” Colbeck
said.
Under the legislation,
Northville Township will have the
first opportunity to purchase the
property from the state. If the
township declines the offer, the
property will be sold on the open
market.
Net revenue from the sale of
the property received by the state
would be deposited in the state
general fund.
Colbeck's bill will now move
over to the House where it will
likely be assigned to the House
Appropriations Committee.
Ficano unveiled the 1,000-acre
site to battery suppliers and ener-
gy-related firms during his seventh
trademission toAsia last week.
“We're looking to fill the supply
chain in the battery and advanced-
energy industries,” said Ficano,
who traveled with Snyder to
Japan, South Korea and China.
“That would include everything
from education to advancement of
technology tomanufacturing.”
Wayne County is facilitating the
project, working with the commu-
nities and other land owners to
develop infrastructure like roads,
water and sewer and attract ten-
ants. The area is a prime commer-
cial location with several technol-
ogy-related firms nearby.
The vision is to cluster high
tech battery makers and suppliers
inwesternWayneCounty.
Plymouth Township owns
about 350 acres in the proposed
park; Northville Township owns
about 250 acres.
“Creating this world-class tech-
nology park is an important step
that will help create jobs and pro-
mote long-term economic growth,”
said Plymouth Township
Supervisor Richard Reaume.
“Every level of government will
play a critical role in the state's
economic revival.”
Northville Township
Supervisor Mark Abbo added:
“Both Plymouth and Northville
Township share a common goal of
getting these businesses up and
running as quickly as possible. We
have pledged to provide any help
we can to the process.'s.' whether it
involves government permits or
not.”
Park
FROM PAGE 1