February 23, 2007: Former Chief Daniel Black, Lake Angelus Police Department
OFFENDER: DANIEL PATRICK BLACK [FORMER LAKE ANGELUS PD CHIEF OF POLICE]
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A FEMALE RELATIVE:
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2007/02/chief-daniel-black-lake-angelus-pd.html
SEE ALSO:
Chief Daniel Black of the Lake Angelus PD under investigation for 16 allegations against him. The allegations against Black were never disclosed to the public. [June 2004]
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2004/06/chief-daniel-black-lake-angelus-pd.html
Chief Black began raping his victim in 2001, when she was 12 years old. Chief Black retired from the Lake Angelus Police Department in 2004= Black was raping his victim for three years while he held the position of Chief Of Police of the Lake Angelus PD.
Former Chief Daniel Black being led out of the courthouse (pictured in leg shackles), after being arraigned on 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Former Chief Daniel Black at his sentencing hearing. Black pled no-contest to ten counts of criminal sexual conduct, and was sentenced to 9-15 years in prison.
ORIGINAL CHARGES: FOUR COUNTS OF 1ST DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT; TWO COUNTS OF 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT; AND FOUR COUNTS OF 3RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT.
Ex-Police Chief of Detroit-Area Community Sentenced in Sex AbuseBy Tiffany Griffin
Story Created: Aug 23, 2007 at 7:55 AM EST
Story Updated: Aug 23, 2007 at 7:55 AM EST
WSBT2 Southbend IN
http://www.wsbt.com/news/michigan/9329801.html
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A former police chief of the Detroit-area community of Lake Angelus, who retired in 2004 after serving in the post for 18 years, will serve 9 to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse involving a girl.
Daniel P. Black, 50, of Clarkston, was charged with 10 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He pleaded no contest on Monday just as his trial was to get under way.
Despite a plea for mercy from Black's victim, Oakland County Circuit Judge Edward Sosnick said Wednesday that Black had already received a break in his plea deal. He could have faced up to life in prison.
The charges stem from allegations of sexual abuse from 2001, when the girl was 12, until late 2005. The case surfaced when the girl's mother found her daughter had received inappropriate text messages from Black.
Ex-police chief sentenced in sex abuse of girlThu, Aug 23, 2007
Grand Haven Tribune
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/38569050556300.bsp
PONTIAC (AP) — A former police chief of the Detroit-area community of Lake Angelus, who retired in 2004 after serving in the post for 18 years, will serve 9 to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse involving a girl.
Daniel P. Black, 50, of Clarkston, was charged with 10 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He pleaded no contest on Monday just as his trial was to get under way.
Despite a plea for mercy from Black's victim, Oakland County Circuit Judge Edward Sosnick said Wednesday that Black got off easy; he could have faced up to life in prison, the judge said.
The charges stem from allegations of sexual abuse from 2001, when the girl was 12, until late 2005.
The case surfaced when the girl's mother found her daughter had received inappropriate text messages from Black.
Judge sentences molester to 9-15Web-posted Aug 22, 2007
By ANN ZANIEWSKI
Of The Oakland Press
http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/082207/loc_20070822141.shtml
A judge today sentenced a former Lake Angeles police chief to 9-15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a girl. Daniel Black, 50, earlier pleaded no contest to 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct. He chose not to comment in court today when offered an opportunity by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Edward Sosnick.
The victim, now 19, was assaulted from 2001-2005. She did not appear in court, but an acquaintance of hers read a statement on her behalf. In the statement, the victim wrote that Black did not ruin her life, and she said she would be happy with six years being the minimum amount of time he could spend in jail.
"I do not want him to be in prison the rest of his life," the victim wrote.
Former Lake Angelus chief going to prisonWeb-posted Aug 7, 2007
By STEPHEN FRYE
Of The Oakland Press
http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/080707/loc_2007080707.shtml
The former police chief of Lake Angelus pleaded no contest Monday to 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a teenage acquaintance, agreeing to a sentence that will send him to prison for at least nine years.
Daniel Black, 50, formerly of Independence Township, entered the plea just as his trial was to get under way. The plea followed about two hours of negotiations between his attorneys and prosecutors.
Oakland County Circuit Judge Edward Sosnick accepted the sentencing agreement for a prison term of nine to 15 years, noting the reluctance of the victim, a girl who is now 19, to testify.
"I'm sympathetic to that," Sosnick said of the victim. "I think she would like to go on with her life."
Earlier Monday morning, Sosnick approved a material witness warrant for the victim, which could have allowed officials to jail her to compel her to testify. An aunt said she was simply late for court, but her attorney said she was reluctant to relive the years of sexual abuse Black was accused of perpetrating.
"I think that there was a good resolution to this matter," Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Elisa Ramunno said. "He pled as charged, he admitted what he did and we spared the victim from testifying."
As his plea was given, Black broke down and sobbed briefly. When Sosnick asked if he understood his rights, he quickly straightened up and answered each question with a sharp and loud "Yes, sir" or "No, sir."
A plea of no contest is not an admission of guilt but is treated as one for sentencing and results in a conviction. Black did not dispute the allegations against him.
Prosecutors said Black abused the young girl from 2001 until late 2005, starting when she was 12 years old. The girl's mother reported the abuse to police after finding inappropriate text messages from Black.
Black, who had been living in Pontiac shortly before his February arrest, has been jailed since then on a $2.5 million bond. Retired in 2004 from Lake Angelus, Black had been working in the security department of Providence Hospital in Southfield.
Sosnick will sentence Black on Aug. 22. If the judge wants to give a lengthier sentence than expected, Black may withdraw his plea.
Black had faced up to life in prison.
He pleaded to four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Sentencing guidelines called for a minimum term ranging from nine to 15 years.
Defense attorney Deanna L. Kelley said the chief concern for Black and the rest of the girl's family is what is best for the victim.
"Hopefully, it is a just result," Kelley said.
The girl's attorney, Jeffrey Quas, said the girl was late because she was nervous about testifying.
"She felt like she was going to be victimized again," Quas said. "I think that's fairly common. Why relive what occurred? It was bad enough the first time. She's moving on. She's continuing with her life."
Quas said this was not a case of someone wanting to help the person charged with abuse, but rather simply nerves.
"We have a job to do, and he has to be held accountable for what he did," Ramunno said.
Alan Reiner, attorney for the girl's mother, said the family did not want special consideration given to Black, but they wanted the case resolved.
"The victim, in this case, is a very strong person," Reiner said. "She's tough. They all just wanted it over."
Kelley asked Ramunno to ensure the court that no charges of obstruction of justice would be leveled against the family members, and Ramunno agreed.
Defense attorney William Kucyk said he will ask Sosnick to help Black serve his sentence in a prison system other than Michigan's, because of security and personal safety issues.
"He has a right to be safe while he's incarcerated," Kelley said.
Ramunno questioned whether the judge would make that decision.
"That is up to the Michigan Department of Corrections," Ramunno said.
Ex-police chief facing sex chargesFREE PRESS
BY KORIE WILKINS
February 26, 2007
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS-News_Clips_02-26-07_188205_7.pdf
Former Lake Angelus Police Chief Daniel Black faces sex charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life.Black, 50, is charged with sexually abusing a relative, now 18. The alleged abuse began when the girl was 12, said Detective Sgt. Gary Muir of Michigan State Police.
Black was charged Thursday in 52-2 District Court in Independence Township, where he lives. He's being held in the Oakland County Jail on $2.5-million bond, $250,000 for each of 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct.
He retired in November 2004 after nearly 20 years as Lake Angelus chief."This is a man who has dedicated his life to law enforcement," said Black's attorney, Deanna Kelley. "And while he's scared right now, he's confident the case will be resolved in his favor."
The most recent allegations came to light in January, Muir said, after Black and the girl went shopping at Birch Run and spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express. After they returned, Black's wife saw disturbing exchanges between him and the girl on Black's cell phone and then called state police, Muir said.
The high bond was set, Muir said, because Black allegedly threatened the girl, saying: "Do you want to tell your mom? OK, let me go get my gun and we'll go tell her and I'll end all our lives."
Ex-Police Chief Accused Of Sexually Abusing 12-Year-OldPOSTED: 10:21 am EST February 23, 2007
UPDATED: 7:10 pm EST February 23, 2007
LAKE ANGELUS, Mich. -- The former police chief of Lake Angelus was charged Thursday in a 10-count warrant alleging years of sexual abuse of a relative.
Daniel Patrick Black, 50, who retired in 2004 after serving Lake Angelus for 18 years, is jailed on a $2.5 million bond.
The Judge entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
"We will vigorously defend any and all allegations," Black's attorney, William Kucyk, told the Oakland Press.
Black is charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second-degree and four counts of third-degree.
Prosecutors said Black is accused of sexually abusing a relative from 2001 until late 2005, starting when she was 12 years old.
The allegations came to light about a month ago, said Edward Cibor, chief of warrants and investigations for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
The alleged abuse-- which officials said included touching, oral sex and intercourse-- was reported to the Michigan State Police in Birch Run, police said.
Police allege it occurred in different parts of the state and in Florida.
Black was arrested at his workplace--Providence Hospital in Southfield, where he works security-- at noon on Thursday.
Kucyk objected to police and prosecutors' methods, saying Black is willing to face the charges and would have turned himself in.
Local 4 reported Black was wearing a red long-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans. He did not say much in court, except to identify himself and confirm that he understood both his rights and the charges.
Prosecutors told the Oakland Press that Black attempted to block the investigation by having someone influence the alleged victim not to cooperate with police.
Cibor also said that Black said he wanted to show her how much he loved her when committing the sexual abuse and also threatened her. "When she protested and said, 'This isn't right,' and 'Should I tell my mother?' he said, 'OK, let's go tell your mother. I've got my gun and will end all our lives,' " Cibor said.
Black was a controversial figure near the end of his tenure as chief at the Lake Angelus Police Department, Local 4 reported.
He was the subject of a city investigation -- which the Lake Angelus city leadership refused to make public - related to administrative police duties.
City officials said the investigation was not criminal, and they gave Black immunity in exchange for his response to 16 allegations against him.
The city's investigation found no substance to any allegations.
The investigation dealt with police certifications. The attorneys said the current charges stem from recently revealed allegations and that the criminal investigation took about a month.
"We're disappointed when a case involves law enforcement," said Matthew Roth, executive staff attorney for the prosecutor's office. "Our obligation, though, is to prosecute all cases in Oakland County. Nobody is above the law."
Former Sag Co chaplain chargedBy Kathy Hoekstra
Posted: Friday, February 23, 2007 at 8:59 AM
http://www.nbc25online.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=28308
A former Saginaw County Sheriff's Department Chaplain is accused of starting an affair with a 12-year-old girl, back in 2001. Black, who now lives in Clarkston, apparently drove to Birch Run, at some point, to meet with the girl. Now, Black faces four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Black is also a retired police chief. He retired back in 2004 after serving in the post for 18 years in Lake Angelus. Black volunteered with the Saginaw County Sheriff's department back in the 90's.
Ex-Lake Angelus police chief charged in sex assaults on girlRetired lawman held on $2.5M bond; authorities say incidents began in 2001.
DETNEWS.COM
Mike Martindale
The Detroit News
Friday, February 23, 2007
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/METRO02/702230369/1009
CLARKSTON -- A veteran lawman and retired Lake Angelus police chief was charged Thursday with 10 counts of sexual assault involving a minor.
Daniel Black, 50, of Independence Township was arraigned before Clarkston 52-2 District Judge Dana Fortinberry, who ordered him held in the Oakland County Jail in lieu of $250,000 on each of the 10 counts for a bond totaling $2.5 million. A preliminary exam will be held March 5.
"This is something that apparently began about six years ago -- in 2001," said Edward Cibor, chief of warrants at the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
The female victim, now 18 years old, said some of the incidents took place in Florida and also in Saginaw County.
"The investigation began when his wife came across a text message and became suspicious. It led to charges against him," Cibor said.
Black, who retired as Lake Angelus police chief in 2004 after 18 years, was arrested by Michigan State Police around 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Providence Hospital, where he is employed in security, Cibor said.
In requesting a high bond, Cibor told Fortinberry the victim fears for her safety."A couple years ago she said she wanted to tell her mother what he was doing, and he said, 'OK, I'll go get my gun and you tell your mother and I'll kill you, her and me.'" Cibor told the judge.
Some of the charges carry a penalty of up to life in prison, Cibor said.
Lake Angelus ex-chief charged with criminal sexual conductMan accused in abuse of young relative could face life term in prison
The Oakland Press /DetNews.com, MI Web
posted Feb 23, 2007
By STEPHEN FRYE
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/022307/loc_2007022329.shtml
INDEPENDENCE TWP. - The former police chief of Lake Angelus could face life in prison after being charged Thursday in a 10-count warrant alleging years of sexual abuse of a young relative.
Daniel Patrick Black, 50, who retired in 2004 after serving Lake Angelus for 18 years, is jailed on a $2.5 million bond set by 52nd-2nd District Judge Dana Fortinberry.
Black stood mute during his early evening arraignment, and the judge entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
He is to return to court for a preliminary examination March 5.
"We will vigorously defend any and all allegations," said Black's attorney, William Kucyk, declining to further discuss the charges.Black is charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second-degree and four counts of third-degree.
First-degree carries up to life in prison; the others carry up to 15 years.
The former Independence Township resident, who has most recently lived with a friend in Pontiac since the allegations surfaced, is accused of sexually abusing a relative from 2001 until late 2005, starting when she was 12 years old, according to prosecutors.
The allegations came to light about a month ago, said Edward Cibor, chief of warrants and investigations for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
The alleged abuse - which included touching, oral sex and intercourse - was reported to the Michigan State Police in Birch Run, police said.Police allege it occurred in different parts of the state and Florida, but it is not yet known if additional charges would be levied in different jurisdictions, Cibor said.
State police Detective Sgt. Gary Muir presented the police investigation to prosecutors Wednesday morning, and within four hours, an arrest warrant was issued, Cibor said.
Black was arrested at his workplace - he works security at Providence Hospital in Southfield - at about noon Thursday.
Kucyk objected to police and prosecutors' methods, saying Black is willing to face the charges and would have turned himself in.
Wearing a red long-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, Black said little in court, except to identify himself and confirm that he understood both his rights and the charges.
Cibor asked for a bond of at least $1 million, saying this case showed Black was "one of the most serious and dangerous sexual predators" he had seen in his 30-year career.
Cibor said Black attempted to block the investigation by having someone influence the alleged victim not to cooperate with police.
"He now refers to her as 'his little whore,' " Cibor said.
Cibor also said that Black said he wanted to show her how much he loved her when committing the sexual abuse and also threatened her."
When she protested and said, 'This isn't right,' and 'Should I tell my mother?' he said, 'OK, let's go tell your mother. I've got my gun and will end all our lives,' " Cibor said.
Kucyk objected strongly, saying the bond discussion was not a trial, but Fortinberry said she wanted to hear the background before making her decision.
Kucyk argued that Black would return to court, has strong ties to the community and needed to work to pay for his home, where his wife lives but from which he has moved out.
Furthermore, the lawyer said, Black is accused by a relative and is not accused of being a public predator.
Kucyk questioned why, if the charges were so serious, police and prosecutors had not arrested Black for the month during which they knew about the allegations.
"Where has he been for the last month?" Kucyk said of Cibor, eliciting an angry response from the veteran prosecutor and a brief but heated exchange.
"I have an answer for counsel," Cibor said. "We didn't sit back with these serious matters."
Fortinberry said the charges are serious and "there is a serious risk to the complainant."
She issued a bond of $250,000 cash or surety - with no 10 percent provision - for each count on the warrant.
Black was a controversial figure near the end of his tenure as chief at the Lake Angelus Police Department.
He was the subject of a city investigation - which the Lake Angelus city leadership refused to make public - related to administrative police duties.City officials said the investigation was not criminal, and they gave Black immunity in exchange for his response to 16 allegations against him.
The city's investigation found no substance to any allegations. Reportedly, the investigation dealt with police certifications.
The attorneys said the current charges stem from recently revealed allegations and that the criminal investigation took about a month.
"We're disappointed when a case involves law enforcement," said Matthew Roth, executive staff attorney for the prosecutor's office. "Our obligation, though, is to prosecute all cases in Oakland County. Nobody is above the law."
Former chaplain facing sex chargesFriday, February 23, 2007
DEAN BOHNTHE SAGINAW NEWS
http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news21/1172244091204980.xml&coll=9
A former Saginaw County sheriff's chaplain and former police chief of the Oakland County town of Lake Angelus is in the Oakland County Jail facing 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct, a state police detective says.He could face up to life in prison.
Police on Thursday arrested Daniel P. Black, 50, now of Clarkston, at his home for having sex with a minor since she was 12 in 2001, said Detective Sgt. Gary Muir of the Groveland State Police Post in Holly.
The girl's mother called police when she discovered the two had gone to a Birch Run Township motel on Jan. 12 to have sex, Muir said.
"The mother found text messages on (a) cell phone from her daughter, and asked her why she would make these comments," the detective said. "She eventually grabbed her and put her in a car and went for a drive and confronted her. That's when she admitted what was going on."
Saginaw County prosecutors suggested police defer the case to Oakland County, where prosecutors could pursue more serious charges of having sex with a minor, because the girl was 18 when the Birch Run incident took place."
(Black) was a volunteer chaplain for a support group that helped inform families when there was a death in the family, like auto fatalities," said Saginaw County Sheriff's Lt. Wil Yancer.
Oakland County District Judge Dana Fourtinberry set bond at $250,000 and denied release because of threats Black made to the child and her mother, Muir said.
Black faces a preliminary exam at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, in District Court in front of Fourtinberry.
"(Black) was not ordained, I believe," said Tom McIntyre, then sheriff, and now Saginaw County 911 Communications Center Authority director. "Most of our chaplains went through training, a certification program trained by a real chaplain."
Black retired from the Lake Angelus Police Department in 2004.
Retired Oakland County police chief faces sex abuse chargesDetroit Free Press, MI - Feb 23, 2007
BY KORIE WILKINS
February 23, 2007
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/
Former Lake Angelus police chief Daniel Black is facing sexual assault charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life.
The 50-year-old Black — who had been working as an armed security guard at Providence Hospital in Southfield — is charged with sexually abusing a female relative, now 18.
Police say the alleged abuse began when the girl was 12, said Det. Sgt. Gary Muir of the Michigan State Police's Groveland post.
Black was charged Thursday in 52-3 District Court in Independence Township, where he lives. He’s being held on $2.5-million bond, $250,000 for each of 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct — 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree -- with which he's charged.
He’ll be back before Judge Dana Fortinberry on March 5.His attorney, William Kucyk, did not return calls seeking comment.
The most recent allegations came to light in January, Muir said, after Black and the girl went shopping at the Birch Run Outlet Mall and spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express.
After they returned Jan. 13, the girl’s mother saw disturbing exchanges between Black and the girl on Black’s cell phone and called the state police post in Saginaw County, Muir said.
“It really bothered her,” said Muir, who said the mother did not previously suspect any abuse.
Officials said that most of the alleged abuse happened in Oakland County and, after an investigation, Muir presented his findings to the Oakland County Prosecutor's office on Wednesday.
Ed Cibor, chief of warrants and investigations, did not return calls seeking comment.
The high bond was set, Muir said, because Black allegedly threatened the girl in the past, saying: “Do you want to tell your mom? OK, let me go get my gun and we’ll go tell her and I’ll end all our lives.”
Black has been the target of an investigation before. Lake Angelus officials investigated allegations — none of which were made public, but which were reportedly related to his administrative duties — while Black was chief of the small, northern Oakland County community. He was never charged in that instance.
Black retired in November 2004 after nearly 20 years with the department.
PAST NEWS ARTICLE ON CHIEF BLACK
Police chief retiresThe Oakland Press
Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2004
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/10/27/localnews/20041027-archive3.txt
Chief Daniel Black has retired from the Lake Angelus Police Department, just months after a spate of allegations surfaced against him.
The city investigated the allegations - which were never released publicly - and found no substance to any of them. Black had been criticized by residents and even some city officials for improper conduct.
The city revitalized its Law Enforcement Committee to look into allegations, which were made shortly after the termination of several reserve police officers in February.
Black submitted his request for retirement Oct. 11. It will take effect Nov. 5, said city Clerk Rosalie Lake.
"We're in the process of looking for a new chief," she said. "We're accepting resumes."
Black's wife, Sherry, remains employed with the Lake Angelus Police Department, Lake said, where she is a sergeant. Neither Dan nor Sherry Black could be reached for comment.
Earlier this year, city officials gave Black immunity in exchange for his response to the 16 allegations against him. A report was compiled by city attorneys, but it was never released to the public.
The Lake Angelus Police Department was also under investigation by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Officials there have said the investigation is administrative, rather than criminal. The commission provides certification for police officers.
Commission officials could not be reached for comment.
Police chief won't lose his job, council saysThe Oakland Press
Published: Tuesday, August 17, 2004
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/08/17/localnews/20040817-archive5.txt
Indicating there was little substance to a spate of allegations against him, the Lake Angelus City Council said Police Chief Daniel Black will keep his job.
Several residents and police officers spoke out in support of Black at Monday night's meeting - some of whom had been critical of him in the past.
Resident Cheryl Case, long a critic of Black's, publicly apologized to the chief and the City Council for speaking out about the allegations. She also praised the police department.
"I feel a lot safer knowing they are here," she said.
The chief's wife, Sherry Black, also supported her husband. She is a sergeant with the Lake Angelus Police Department.
"I'm Sherry Black, and obviously I'm behind the chief," she said.
Last month, city officials gave Black immunity in exchange for his response to the 16 allegations against him. City attorney Dan Christ investigated the allegations and officials said there was no substance to them.
The allegations lodged against Black have never been publicly disclosed.
"If the allegations were that serious, why were they not brought to our attention earlier?" asked Councilman Gary Parlove. "The most significant thing is this: All the information that came to us came from people who were no longer employed by the police department. It was all secondary evidence."
And even though Black will keep his job, the Lake Angelus Police Department is under investigation by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. Officials there say the investigation is administrative, rather than criminal. MCOLES provides certification for police officers Councilwoman Lee McNew, who said at the July 15 meeting that she had lost confidence in Black, said the report compiled by Christ -which has not been publicly released - showed no reason to fire the chief.
"We feel the status quo is the best routine at this point," McNew said. "There are many changes that need to be made (in the department), and the law enforcement committee can take care of that."
McNew did not elaborate on what changes should be made.
The city's Law Enforcement Committee, which was revitalized this year to look into allegations made shortly after the termination of several reserve police officers in February, is made up of Parlove, resident Jim Cortez and Mayor George Frisch.
Cortez said at Monday's meeting that there was an "organized smear campaign" trying to get Black fired.
"A lot of you have been misled," he said.
Little city, strange problemsPublished: Saturday, July 24, 2004
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/07/24/opinions/20040724-archive.txt
Although it's one of the smallest communities in Oakland County, Lake Angelus has a lot of eyes on it these days.
At the center of the rather confusing and bizarre story is Police Chief Daniel Black, who's under investigation by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement.
But that's about all anyone knows, including a number of irate residents who are upset with city officials for refusing to disclose what's going on.
So far, the City Council has done little that makes any sense other than showing its arrogance.
The council voted to give Black immunity in return for responding to the 16 allegations against him. Talk about your sweetheart deals. There was no other way to get some honest answers?
Only after that information is obtained will council members decide whether to release it to the people they work for - Lake Angelus residents.
All of these problems in a community of 326 people, according to the 2000 census - that's down from 328 in 1990. Perhaps they should look into contracting for their police protection with the Sheriff's Department.
City gives police chief immunityPublished: Friday, July 16, 2004
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/07/16/localnews/20040716-archive1.txt
LAKE ANGELUS - City officials have given Police Chief Daniel Black immunity in exchange for his response to a laundry list of allegations against him.
But, so far, officials have refused to disclose what the 16 allegations are against Black. State officials, however, revealed that there is an investigation into the department.
At a special meeting Thursday night, the City Council voted to grant Black the measure of protection. Under United States v. Garrity, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police officers cannot incriminate themselves when ordered to answer questions.
Under Garrity, city attorney Dan Christ said, Black can't face prosecution for his answers. However, police officers can be fired for failing to answer questions.
Christ said he plans to meet with Black in the coming days and will draft a report for the City Council, which will then decide whether to make the document public.
The Lake Angelus Police Department, which is among the smallest departments in Oakland County, is under investigation by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, said MCOLES Deputy Director Gary Ruffini.
"We're looking into some issues," he said.
Ruffini declined further comment but said the investigation is administrative in nature rather than criminal.
MCOLES provides certification for police officers.
A local law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the department may have allowed officers to maintain their certifications by claiming they worked in Lake Angelus as police William Kucyk, Black's attorney, declined to comment on the allegations.
Residents at Thursday's meeting said the community had lost faith in Black. Some called for his dismissal and others expressed frustration at the way the City Council has handled the issue.
"His credibility is impugned to the point that there's no respect in the community," said resident Ed Adler. "You really should consider replacing him."
As an at-will employee, Black can be fired at any time - and for any reason - by the City Council.
"(Black) really ought to be given a chance to respond," said Councilwoman Lee McNew. "But we've lost confidence."
So far, the issue has been under the purview of the Law Enforcement Committee, which was revitalized this year to look into allegations made shortly after the terminations of several reserve police officers in February.
"It was to knock out all the rumors, so to speak, floating about the community," said Councilman Gary Parlove.
Officials said Thursday that they didn't know if an outside agency, such as the Michigan State Police, would ever investigate the matter.
"It's all out in the open now, and it will be addressed," Parlove said.
Meanwhile, state officials are investigating matters of police certification.David King, spokesman for MCOLES, said officers must work as police officers with full police power to maintain their certification.
In an investigation, MCOLES officials look out for obvious fraud - such as paying someone $1 a year simply to keep them on the books, a practice more common when these standards were initiated more than two decades ago, King said.
However, many smaller departments, particularly in northern Michigan, rely on part-time officers, some of whom work for more than one department.
"We look for evidence that there is a regular presence of this person as an employee," King said.
MCOLES requested payroll records from the city's police department dating back to 1999, Parlove said at Monday night's meeting.
Parlove said at Thursday's meeting that the request was caused, in part, by Sherry Black's certification. Sherry Black is the chief's wife and a sergeant with the Lake Angelus Police Department.
MCOLES has no criminal authority, but if fraud is found, the case could then be turned over to the state Attorney General's Office.
Staff writer Stephen Frye contributed to this report.
Chief to meet with city attorneyPublished: Tuesday, July 13, 2004
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/07/13/localnews/20040713-archive1.txt
With some residents calling for his dismissal, Lake Angelus Police Chief Daniel Black will get a chance to refute allegations of misconduct.
Black will meet with a city attorney today to be informed of the 16 allegations - which have not been disclosed - made against him, said City Attorney Lawrence Ternan. He said lawyers are looking into criminal and noncriminal violations because of the allegations.
"At this point we'd really like Dan Black to review what the issues are and respond to them," Ternan said.
Black, who was not at Monday night's City Council meeting, could not be reached for comment.
Many residents who attended the meeting expressed frustration that Black was still chief. They also seemed angry that officials were investigating the allegations internally and had not contacted an outside agency to look into the matter.
Council members said they were looking into the allegations and that investigations of this manner take time. Still, some officials said residents were getting antsy for a resolution to the issue.
"I feel very strongly that we need to act quickly," Councilwoman Lee McNew said. "The longer this drags on is bad for us and it is bad for (Black). It looks like we're not doing anything."
Allegations have swirled around Black for several months. City officials have refused to disclose the allegations against Black. The Michigan Coalition on Law Enforcement Standards requested payroll records from the city's police department dating back to 1999, said Councilman Gary Parlove at Monday night's meeting.
Parlove, a member of the Law Enforcement Committee - formed to look into allegations made against Black - said the city's investigation of the allegations is moving along.
"There's a process that needs to be followed," he said.
Police chief faces allegationsPublished: Thursday, June 24, 2004
The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2004/06/24/policecourt/20040624-archive0.txt
LAKE ANGELUS - Lake Angelus officials are looking into allegations against the city's police chief, but refused to disclose the nature of the alleged offenses.
The Law Enforcement Committee, formed to look into allegations made against Chief Daniel Black, met Monday night. Mayor George Frisch said the City Council will meet in the coming weeks to determine how to proceed in probing the allegations, which he refused to discuss.
The next regular meeting of the City Council is July 12.
"All I can say is we are looking into the matter," he said.
Pierre Beaudet, a councilman, also declined to say what the chief was being accused of, saying only that officials would turn any information over to an outside body if it deemed necessary.
"There's a lot of stuff going on," Beaudet said.
The allegations could stem from the recent firing of a police lieutenant. Beaudet said the lieutenant was fired because of budget woes and he would not say whether the lieutenant was the one making allegations against Black.
"Most of the accusations are unsubstantiated at this point," Beaudet said. "But we have to find out what's what. I think we all recognize something has to be done with the police department."
Beaudet said the firing of the lieutenant was not handled well. He also said in a small town like Lake Angelus - which has about 300 residents - it is important to nip rumors in the bud to avoid damaging reputations.
Jim Cortez, a member of the Law Enforcement Committee, declined to comment on Monday's meeting, which was open to the public. He said the City Council will be informed of the situation and another public meeting will be held soon.
Black did not return calls seeking comment.
MI POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED PERPETRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW ENFORCEMENT MURDER SUICIDE
