Detroit cop allegedly attacked fellow officer at her home, headed to trial on assault charge
MLive
Oct. 05, 2021
DETROIT -- An officer with the Detroit Police Department is headed to trial on charges that he assaulted a fellow officer at her home earlier this year. According to WDIV Detroit, Officer Otis Funches is facing felony assault charges for the alleged assault, which took place on Aug. 28 at a home in Taylor.
Police Chief James White confirmed the officer has been suspended without pay while the case continues to be investigated and works its way through the court system.
The victim in the case told police that she allowed Funches into her home before he allegedly attacked her. The victim said she was punched in the face multiple times by Funches during the assault.
The case marks another in a series of incidents recently involving members of the Detroit Police Department. On Aug. 20, a lieutenant with the Detroit Police Department was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly assaulted a fellow officer at her home following a party in February.
The next day, an off-duty officer who had graduated from the police academy earlier in the day was filmed fighting with people in the Greektown area of Detroit. He was “relieved of duties” following the fight and suspended without pay.
On Sept. 12, another off-duty officer was arrested after he fled from a crash in which he was the passenger inside of a stolen Dodge Charger. That officer was captured by members of the Detroit Police Department and eventually was suspended by the department while his case unfolds in court as well.
2 Detroit police officers suspended without pay in separate incidents
Click On Detroit - WDIV News - Detroit
October 5, 2021
DETROIT – Two officers with the Detroit Police Department have been suspended without pay.
Officer Otis Funches Jr. was arrested Aug. 26 in Taylor and charged in connection with a vicious attack on his girlfriend. According to the Taylor Police Department, the woman was choked until she was unconscious.
Funches was charged with felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm, misdemeanor domestic violence and interfering with a crime report for allegedly taking his girlfriend’s cellphone so she could not call police for help.
The alleged victim is also a Detroit Police Officer.
Additionally, a veteran Detroit police sergeant working at the Detroit Detention Center was allegedly able to get cash out of a bond kiosk like an ATM in the jail lobby. Sources claim the amount stolen is $30,000.
Detroit police officer charged with domestic violence against girlfriend who is also a DPD cop
FOX 2 News - Detrioit
October 4, 2021
Detroit police officer headed to trial for domestic violence against girlfriend.
Otis Funches Jr. is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, interfering with a crime report and domestic violence for allegedly choking out his girlfriend, who’s also a Detroit police officer, in the city of Taylor back in August.
Suspended DPD officer headed to trial on domestic violence charges
Click On Detroit - WDIV News - Detroit
October 4, 2021
Suspended Detroit police officer appears in court as the Local 4 Defenders uncovers new information in the domestic violence case against him.
Detroit cop charged with domestic violence on girlfriend who is also a DPD officer
FOX 2 News - Detrioit
October 4, 2021
TAYLOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Detroit cop appears headed to trial accused of roughing up his girlfriend.
Otis Funches Jr. is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, interfering with a crime report and domestic violence for allegedly choking out his girlfriend, who’s also a Detroit police officer, in the city of Taylor back in August.
Officer Funches was in court earlier on Monday, where the judge ruled there was enough evidence to move forward with the case. He was given a $10,000 personal bond.
"When we looked into the facts and circumstances we found some troubling information," said Detroit Police Chief James White.
White says he moved quiickly to suspend Funches without pay.
"I’ve said it many times, it’s a privilege to wear this badge," the chief said. "It’s not a right, and to participate in that privilege you have to conduct yourself.
"We’re held to a higher standard, and the actions that I saw and the investigation that I read, is that he did not meet our departmental standards, and he was not acting appropriately."
Chief White also confirmed a former officer is being investigated for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a bond kiosk at the Detroit Detention Center.
The theft happened back in mid-January. Authorities realized what they were light after conducting an audit in August.
"We notified Internal Affairs Professional Standards, they opened up an investigation, and in a couple of weeks we had enough where we knew a gross policy violation had occurred," White said.
That officer was suspended without pay but resigned before facing a disciplinary hearing.
DPD is pursuing criminal charges against him and that’s not all.
"There are some things I can do to ensure they won’t be back through the department," White said. "And there’s notifications I can make to ensure they don’t get jobs at other law enforcement agencies, and I have a responsibility to do that. And I take that responsibility very seriously, so I will be doing that."
White says as jarring as the allegations are, they’re not representative of the department.
"I can point to examples of outstanding police work," he said. "I can point to examples of officers saving lives on a day-in and day-out basis-going to barricaded gunmen where people are armed, threatening to kill themselves, and threatening to kill others.
"People who have shot our officers and our officers have returned fire, striking them, and then immediately going into life-saving mode and saving the person, who just shot one of our officers.
"The overwhelming majority of the men and women in this department do a fine job and they don’t want bad officers giving them, putting us in a bad light either."
BOPC approves suspensions without pay for two DPD officers
Bagley Community Council
September 17, 2021
At its meeting Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Board of Police Commissioners voted to suspend two officers without pay.
The Board deliberated in Closed Session to consider DPD requests for Administrative Leave Without Pay but with Medical Benefits for Police Officer Otis Funches, Badge 690, assigned to the Twelfth Precinct; and for Administrative Leave Without Pay but with Medical Benefits for Sergeant Derek Loranger, Badge S-166, assigned to the Detroit Detention Center.
The Board returned to the public meeting and voted to approve both requests.
To view the meeting, watch City TV 21, visit detroitmi.gov.
Detroit Police Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) - Facebook
Join on Zoom Thursday at 3 p.m. for key updates on the DPD Budget and Risk Management
September 15, 2021
Suspension of Detroit Police Officer Otis Funches Jr.
"XVI. New Business - Closed Session pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Open Meetings Act MCL 15.268(a) - (1) Regarding Administrative Leave Without Pay but with Medical Benefits for Police Officer Otis Funches, Badge 690 to the Twelfth Precinct and Closed Session pursuant to Section 8(f) of the Open Meetings Act MCL 15.268(f)"
