02242006 - Deputy Michael Harvey - Suspended - Antrim County SD

Also See:

Deputy Michael Harvey charged with domestic violence [May 13, 2006]:

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-13-2006-deputy-michael-harvey.html

"...Harvey was observed drinking...prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift...drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test....Harvey blew a 0.16....Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident..."

Accused deputy's personnel file shows recent problemsTraverse City Record Eagle, MI
By CRAIG McCOOL
06/23/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/jun/23harvey.htm

BELLAIRE — An Antrim County sheriff's deputy who faces assault and weapons charges seemed a model employee for most of his six years with the department.

Until this year, Michael Harvey, who allegedly threatened to kill his wife with his service gun while on duty in May, received raises and promotions. From the time he was hired in 2000 through the end of 2005, Harvey did not receive a disciplinary letter or citation.

But this February, the deputy with the squeaky-clean record was disciplined twice, including once for drinking heavily the night before he was to work an early shift.

The Record-Eagle obtained a copy of Harvey's personnel file through a state Freedom of Information Act request.

Harvey, 34, was hired in 2000. Between then and the start of this year, he was promoted from the jail to various road patrol assignments.

Shortly after his promotion to the road, a citizen sent a letter to Sheriff Terry Johnson noting Harvey's kindness and "dedication to the community."

Accolades came from superiors, too, but disciplinary warnings began early this year. The first occurred Feb. 21, when Harvey argued with a woman in the county's 911 dispatch area.

Other county employees witnessed the incident and called Michigan State Police, who investigated but did not seek charges. Johnson issued Harvey a warning.

Another incident occurred two days later. On Feb. 23, Harvey was observed drinking in Central Lake, prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift.


Johnson wrote that Harvey drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test.


Harvey blew a 0.169, more than double the legal driving limit, though the letter addressed no specific concern about drinking and driving.


"In the report it states that you felt you would have been OK to go to work" at 4 a.m., Johnson wrote. "I find this to be a ridiculous statement."


Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident.

Harvey has been suspended without pay following his arrest May 14.

He faces two felonious assault charges, punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors also recently added a third charge, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison, said Harvey's attorney Douglas Gutscher.

02232006 - Deputy Michael Harvey - Observed Drinking Prior To His Shift - Blew 0.16 - Antrim County SD

Also See:

Deputy Michael Harvey charged with domestic violence [May 13, 2006]:

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-13-2006-deputy-michael-harvey.html

DEPUTY MICHAEL HARVEY: WAS INTOXICATED PRIOR TO REPORTING TO WORK. [FEBRUARY 23, 2006]



"...Harvey was observed drinking...prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift...drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test....Harvey blew a 0.16....Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident..."










Accused deputy's personnel file shows recent problemsTraverse City Record Eagle, MI
By CRAIG McCOOL
06/23/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/jun/23harvey.htm

BELLAIRE — An Antrim County sheriff's deputy who faces assault and weapons charges seemed a model employee for most of his six years with the department.

Until this year, Michael Harvey, who allegedly threatened to kill his wife with his service gun while on duty in May, received raises and promotions. From the time he was hired in 2000 through the end of 2005, Harvey did not receive a disciplinary letter or citation.

But this February, the deputy with the squeaky-clean record was disciplined twice, including once for drinking heavily the night before he was to work an early shift.

The Record-Eagle obtained a copy of Harvey's personnel file through a state Freedom of Information Act request.

Harvey, 34, was hired in 2000. Between then and the start of this year, he was promoted from the jail to various road patrol assignments.

Shortly after his promotion to the road, a citizen sent a letter to Sheriff Terry Johnson noting Harvey's kindness and "dedication to the community."

Accolades came from superiors, too, but disciplinary warnings began early this year. The first occurred Feb. 21, when Harvey argued with a woman in the county's 911 dispatch area.

Other county employees witnessed the incident and called Michigan State Police, who investigated but did not seek charges. Johnson issued Harvey a warning.

Another incident occurred two days later. On Feb. 23, Harvey was observed drinking in Central Lake, prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift.


Johnson wrote that Harvey drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test.


Harvey blew a 0.169, more than double the legal driving limit, though the letter addressed no specific concern about drinking and driving.


"In the report it states that you felt you would have been OK to go to work" at 4 a.m., Johnson wrote. "I find this to be a ridiculous statement."


Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident.

Harvey has been suspended without pay following his arrest May 14.

He faces two felonious assault charges, punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors also recently added a third charge, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison, said Harvey's attorney Douglas Gutscher.

02222006 - Deputy Michael Harvey - Written Warning For 02212006 "Domestic Argument" - Antrim County SD

Also See:

Deputy Michael Harvey charged with domestic violence [May 13, 2006]:

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-13-2006-deputy-michael-harvey.html

On February 21, 2006, Deputy Michael Harvey got into a domestic argument with an employee of the prosecutor's office, in the Sheriff Department parking lot. The State Police were called to investigate a "domestic argument". Charges were not filed, but Deputy Harvey did receive a written warning for the incident.

Both the Prosecutor and the Sheriff believed that there was a ' personal relationship' between Harvey and the county employee. Due to that relationship, the Antrim Prosecutor had Deputy Harvey's criminal case reassigned to  Grand Traverse County.










GT to prosecute deputy
Case reassigned because of potential witness
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
By craig mccool
05/31/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/31harvey.htm

BELLAIRE — Prosecution of an assault case against an Antrim County sheriff's deputy has been reassigned to a different county because the witness list could include another Antrim County employee with whom the defendant may have been personally involved, officials said.

Michael Harvey, 34, is accused of threatening his wife with his service handgun while on duty May 13 at the couple's home in Central Lake.

Antrim Prosecutor Charles Koop said he asked the felony assault case against Harvey be reassigned to Grand Traverse County because the witness list includes an employee in his office.

"I made the decision not because he (Harvey) was a county officer, but ... one of my employees might be a witness, Koop said.

The employee is Melissa Rogers, a clerical worker in the prosecutors office. Antrim Sheriff Terry Johnson said he thinks she and Harvey had a personal relationship.

Harvey was reprimanded after a Feb. 21 incident during which he and Rogers argued in the sheriff's department parking lot. Things got so heated that other sheriff's personnel called state police, who investigated, Johnson said.

State police in Kalkaska confirmed they responded to "a domestic argument" involving Harvey that evening at the Antrim dispatch center. Koop said the incident did not lead to charges.

Following the incident, Rogers was warned to stay away from Harvey during work hours unless there was something work-related to discuss, Koop said.

Johnson said Harvey had a "written warning" placed in his personnel file after the incident.

Harvey has been suspended without pay since his arrest.

He recently waived his right to a preliminary examination and was bound over on two counts of felonious assault, Antrim District Court officials said.

02212006 - Deputy Michael Harvey - 'Domestic Argument' w/Female From Prosecutor's Office - Antrim SD

Also See:

Deputy Michael Harvey charged with domestic violence [May 13, 2006]:

http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-13-2006-deputy-michael-harvey.html

On February 21, 2006, Deputy Michael Harvey got into a domestic argument with an employee of the prosecutor's office, in the Sheriff Department parking lot. The State Police were called to investigate a "domestic argument". Charges were not filed, but Deputy Harvey did receive a written warning for the incident.

Both the Prosecutor and the Sheriff believed that there was a ' personal relationship' between Harvey and the county employee. Due to that relationship, the Antrim Prosecutor had Deputy Harvey's criminal case reassigned to  Grand Traverse County.










GT to prosecute deputy
Case reassigned because of potential witness
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
By craig mccool
05/31/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/31harvey.htm

BELLAIRE — Prosecution of an assault case against an Antrim County sheriff's deputy has been reassigned to a different county because the witness list could include another Antrim County employee with whom the defendant may have been personally involved, officials said.

Michael Harvey, 34, is accused of threatening his wife with his service handgun while on duty May 13 at the couple's home in Central Lake.

Antrim Prosecutor Charles Koop said he asked the felony assault case against Harvey be reassigned to Grand Traverse County because the witness list includes an employee in his office.

"I made the decision not because he (Harvey) was a county officer, but ... one of my employees might be a witness, Koop said.

The employee is Melissa Rogers, a clerical worker in the prosecutors office. Antrim Sheriff Terry Johnson said he thinks she and Harvey had a personal relationship.

Harvey was reprimanded after a Feb. 21 incident during which he and Rogers argued in the sheriff's department parking lot. Things got so heated that other sheriff's personnel called state police, who investigated, Johnson said.

State police in Kalkaska confirmed they responded to "a domestic argument" involving Harvey that evening at the Antrim dispatch center. Koop said the incident did not lead to charges.

Following the incident, Rogers was warned to stay away from Harvey during work hours unless there was something work-related to discuss, Koop said.

Johnson said Harvey had a "written warning" placed in his personnel file after the incident.

Harvey has been suspended without pay since his arrest.

He recently waived his right to a preliminary examination and was bound over on two counts of felonious assault, Antrim District Court officials said.






Accused deputy's personnel file shows recent problems
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
By CRAIG McCOOL
06/23/2006
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/jun/23harvey.htm

BELLAIRE — An Antrim County sheriff's deputy who faces assault and weapons charges seemed a model employee for most of his six years with the department.

Until this year, Michael Harvey, who allegedly threatened to kill his wife with his service gun while on duty in May, received raises and promotions. From the time he was hired in 2000 through the end of 2005, Harvey did not receive a disciplinary letter or citation.

But this February, the deputy with the squeaky-clean record was disciplined twice, including once for drinking heavily the night before he was to work an early shift.

The Record-Eagle obtained a copy of Harvey's personnel file through a state Freedom of Information Act request.

Harvey, 34, was hired in 2000. Between then and the start of this year, he was promoted from the jail to various road patrol assignments.

Shortly after his promotion to the road, a citizen sent a letter to Sheriff Terry Johnson noting Harvey's kindness and "dedication to the community."

Accolades came from superiors, too, but disciplinary warnings began early this year. The first occurred Feb. 21, when Harvey argued with a woman in the county's 911 dispatch area.

Other county employees witnessed the incident and called Michigan State Police, who investigated but did not seek charges. Johnson issued Harvey a warning.

Another incident occurred two days later. On Feb. 23, Harvey was observed drinking in Central Lake, prior to his scheduled 4 a.m. shift.

Johnson wrote that Harvey drove that night to Bellaire, where he was confronted by another Antrim deputy and made to take a preliminary breath test.

Harvey blew a 0.169, more than double the legal driving limit, though the letter addressed no specific concern about drinking and driving.

"In the report it states that you felt you would have been OK to go to work" at 4 a.m., Johnson wrote. "I find this to be a ridiculous statement."

Harvey received a single-day suspension without pay for the drinking incident.

Harvey has been suspended without pay following his arrest May 14.

He faces two felonious assault charges, punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors also recently added a third charge, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison, said Harvey's attorney Douglas Gutscher.

02012006 - Officer Charlotte Brown - Clayton Township PD

Officer Charlotte Brown, Clayton Township PD: Misuse of LEIN system.

No charge follows police officer's misuse of records database
CLAYTON TOWNSHIP
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
By Bryn Mickle 
Saturday, March 04, 2006
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1141478452106790.xml&coll=5

CLAYTON TWP. - A suspended township police officer will not face criminal charges for misusing a police records database to track down an ex-boyfriend.

Charlotte Brown, 41, was demoted and given a 29-day suspension last month after she admitted using a Swartz Creek police computer to check a name through the Law Enforcement Information Network.

"One of my officers made a mistake," said township police Chief Chuck Melki.

"It was a mistake of the heart."

But because Brown did not share the information with anyone, Genesee County Prosecutor David S. Leyton said he opted against criminal charges.

"She has already received significant punishment," said Leyton.

The episode may still pose some problems with the state for the Clayton Township and Swartz Creek police departments.

The council that oversees the LEIN system will conduct its own investigation and decide if further punishment is needed, said Liz Canfield, an analyst with the Criminal Justice Information System Council in East Lansing.

The state could suspend or revoke LEIN access for either department, but Canfield said such a severe step is rarely taken.

Police departments nationwide depend on LEIN for everything from routine driver's license checks to criminal warrants.

Swartz Creek Police Chief Rick Clolinger said he asked Leyton to issue a criminal warrant after he found out one of his LEIN computers had been misused by a Clayton Township officer.

"I wanted to do the right thing," he said.

The Swartz Creek officer had asked Brown to turn off the loudspeaker in her patrol car and was unaware that Brown had punched a name into the LEIN computer while she was in the car.

Clolinger said there was a breach of trust but added he doesn't believe it has harmed the relationship between the two departments.

Melki said the incident has been an embarrassment for his department but said Brown is a good and hardworking officer.

Her suspension ends Sunday and Melki said she will likely return to patrol sometime next week - but as an officer instead of a corporal.














Clayton Township Police Chief Chuck Melki and attorney Steve Iamarino have not worked since their contracts were extended as at-will employees

Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 10:45 AM
Updated: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 1:36 PM
By Laura Angus
The Flint Journal
http://www.mlive.com/swartzcreek/index.ssf/2008/12/clayton_township_police_chief.html

CLAYTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan — While Ted Henry, the township's building inspector, was back on the job on Friday, police Chief Chuck Melki and attorney Steve Iamarino's status are still unknown.

Currently, the township's police department is operating under the control of Cpl. Charlotte Brown, the department's third-ranking officer. Sgt. David Hammon is on vacation for the week, said Supervisor Bruce Beatty. Melki did not return to work this week.

"With the officers we've got out on the road, this township is going to be as safe as it ever was," he said.

Beatty said the daily operations of the department won't change in Melki's absence

He will meet with Iamarino on Wednesday.

The Township Board voted Dec. 11 to retain Melki, Henry and Iamarino for another 60 days, making them at-will employees for that time and ending their controversial suspensions.

They were suspended after Kalamazoo attorney John Bauckham evaluated the employees' contracts and wrote that they were void and deprived the new Township Board of the statutory power to select and appoint officers because they extended beyond the term of the board that created them.

Bauckham based his opinion on Michigan law and the 1988 case of City of Hazel Park vs. Potter, which deemed it unlawful for an outgoing board to create contracts that extend beyond its term.

Melki's attorney, Dean Yeotis, said the chief rejected the township's proposal that he come back as an at-will employee for 60 days, and he expects the township to honor Melki's contract.

"It is our position that Chief Melki has a valid contract. Apparently, Clayton Township thinks otherwise," said Yeotis.

Melki's contract is structured to keep politics out of the police department, he said.

"Chief Melki is ready, willing and able to return to work under the terms previously agreed to," he said.

Beatty said the matter will be discussed during the Township Board's meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Township Hall, 2011 Morrish Road.