Flint Mayor is cleaning up. Chief of Police & 2 others fired

[hisno1girl]

www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/02/shake-up_at_flint_city_hall_se.html#incart_river_home

FLINT, MI -- Three Flint officials have been ousted in a shake-up at city hall leaving the city without an administrator and interim police and fire chiefs.

On Friday, Feb. 12 the city announced that Flint Police Chief James Tolbert and Fire Chief David Cox Jr. has turned in their resignations effective immediately. A short time later it was announced that City Administrator Natasha Henderson was relieved of her duties.

Tolbert disputed the notion that he resigned and said he and Cox were notified Friday that today would be their last day, and were not given reasons for the decision.

"She wants to make some changes," Tolbert said.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a released statement that she determined the city needs "fresh faces in place with new ideas to help move Flint forward."

While a search for new chiefs is conducted, Weaver said there will be no lapse in police or fire service.

"We have full confidence in the ability of Captain (Birnie) and Commander Cobb to meet the needs of the City of Flint as we conduct a search for the best qualified individuals to provide these vital services to the residents and businesses of Flint," Weaver said in a statement. "We expect to have announcements soon filling both positions with highly qualified individuals who will help us as we work to restore faith and hope in our city government."

Cox said he gave his time as fire chief his full attention.

"When somebody wants a new start, that's what you get. I really don't have a whole lot to say." Cox said. "I give 100 percent whenever I do anything. I was in it to win it. Things didn't work out. You get a new mayor and she wants to bring in her own team."

Flint City Councilwoman Vicki VanBuren, who chairs the city's public safety committee, said she was shocked by the by the news that the three officials would no longer be working for the city.

"To not have any idea or input into what's going on – I don't know," VanBuren said. "I know since Chief Tolbert has been here and Chief Cox, they have been dealing with some very difficult situations, financial situations, staffing, and trying to take care of Flint -- the size that it is -- and handle the issues and still try to provide the best safety for the citizens and for officers."

VanBuren said there had been rumors about who would go and who would stay after Weaver was elected. Henderson, along with Cox and Tolbert, were a few named that were rumored to be out. She said Tolbert was a hands-on chief and worked closely with people in the community.

"He's not the type that was just sitting in the office or just coming up with these plans and having them carry it out. This was a hands-on chief" VanBuren said. "Hands-on in the community and relating to everyone in the city – young and old. I think there's gonna be some changes and it's not gonna be the same. The trust in this city is almost non-existent because of what has happened, and now this happens. How much more can our citizens tolerate or take?"

Flint Police Officers Association President Kevin Smith said the association appreciates Tolbert's service, but is ready for a change.

"The Flint Police Officers Association appreciates Chief Tolbert's service to the city but we believe the time has come for new leadership," Smith said. "Over the course of Tolbert's tenure, crime is still rampant, officer morale has continued to decline, and dollars were wasted on pet projects such as the arrest of a city council member and the hiring of 'water fraud investigators.' Meanwhile, during Tolbert's tenure important crime reductions tools were dismantled, including the department's entire arson unit and most of the traffic division. We call on Mayor Weaver to consider the benefits of hiring a chief from the Flint community when selecting the next chief and are hopeful our voice will be heard under this new, progressive administration."

Henderson was the highest-paid city employee in Flint when she took over in Feb. 2014 as city administrator Feb. 23. She was expected to earn that salary of $140,000 for five years -- the length of her contract.

If there is no longer an emergency manager in the city, the employment agreement with Henderson could be terminated by mutual agreement of the mayor and City Council with the approval of the Transition Advisory Board, according to the contract.

VanBuren and City Council President Kerry Nelson said they were never made aware of her termination.

"I was just not made aware of this," Nelson said. "For a change to occur in the administration like this – I should have gotten a call, and I didn't. It was very shocking."

Even though Henderson's employment contract was approved by an emergency manager, Gov. Rick Snyder's Press Secretary Dave Murray said Henderson's contract was with the city of Flint.

City of Flint Public Relations Director Kristin Moore directing questions on Henderson's contract to Interim Chief Legal Counsel Anthony Chubb. He could not be reached for comment.

VanBuren said Henderson had taken on a lot during her short time with the city and isn't sure who -- if anyone -- will replace her..

"Maybe they are going to announce an interim. I don't know who that interim would be," VanBuren said. "In the short time Ms. Henderson has been with the city I think she has taken on a lot and has done a lot within a short period of time. That's a very hard, stressful kind of job to try to make ends meet, especially with the budget."

Cox, a former captain, was named chief by former emergency manager Ed Kurtz in 2013 after having retired more than a decade earlier following 23 years of service with the city.
Cox spent 11 years as a firefighter before moving to the fire prevention bureau.

In June 2014, the Flint firefighters union had a "no confidence" vote in Cox. The firefighters' vote came as the department was in a state of flux, having lost millions in funding after failing to win a new federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant.

Arson was down almost 44 percent with 87 arsons in 2015 compared to 155 in 2014. House fires in general were down almost 30 percent in 2015. Cox told the Flint Journal the tearing down of blighted and abandoned houses helped to bring the numbers down. He said the community also has helped in preventing arsons.

From March until November, firefighters knocked on nearly 15,000 doors and talked to residents about fire safety as part of the Knock and Speak program.

In Sept. 2013 Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley appointed Detroit Deputy Chief James Tolbert to the position of police chief just three days after Chief Alvern Lock announced his resignation.

During his time as chief, Tolbert has worked on a number of state and federal partnerships to help combat crime in the city.

In 2014 Flint saw a decline in killings with 29 homicides that reflected a 42 percent decline compared to 2013. Homicides jumped 71 percent in 2015 with 48 killings.

Following the shake-up at city hall, the police department will be headed up by police Capt. Collin Birnie and the fire department will be headed up by District Commander Stephen Cobb. There has been no word on if there will be a replacement for Henderson.

Amanda Emery is a police reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact her at [e-mail] or 810-285-0792. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

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[hisno1girl]

I don't know what this has to do with the water crisis but frankly, I think it's a deliberate distraction.

I am sick over this.

The lifelong repercussions are going to devastate many many people, families, and communities.

[underwaterrhymes]

Who's going to clean up and get Snyder out of there?

I have no words for how angry I am that he is still in power there. Fucking disgusting excuse for a human being.

[fernweh]

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

[sparkythelawyer]

Feb 12, 2016 21:46:39 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

The mayor has been stick at the mercy of the fucking finance administrator out in by the city. The mayor had been integral in bringing the water bullshittery to the national stage.

And Snyder should be in fucking jail.

[5hole]

Feb 12, 2016 21:46:39 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

This mayor was just voted into office. She ran on a platform of fixing the water crisis.

[fernweh]

Feb 12, 2016 22:50:06 GMT -5 5hole said:

Feb 12, 2016 21:46:39 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

This mayor was just voted into office. She ran on a platform of fixing the water crisis.

In that case I retract my statement. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know that.

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2016 21:46:39 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

The water crisis began when the city was under control of an emergency manager appointed by the governor (Snyder).

That man is now the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. You may have seen them on national news too recently for their appalling conditions.

I saw the mayor of Detroit speak yesterday, and he said the emergency managers have devastated this state.

[hisno1girl]

Feb 12, 2016 23:17:59 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

Feb 12, 2016 21:46:39 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Uhh... The mayor should have been the first to go

The water crisis began when the city was under control of an emergency manager appointed by the governor (Snyder).

That man is now the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. You may have seen them on national news too recently for their appalling conditions.

I saw the mayor of Detroit speak yesterday, and he said the emergency managers have devastated this state.

I think that the water crisis will probably go down as one of the costliest and worst disasters in the history of our state.

Also, are you taking about Darnell Early? I think he retired or quit but I could be mistaken.

[DotAndBuzz]

I have a few choice words for Snyder:

1) Fuck you.

2) You're a sorry excuse for a governor and I hope you are frequently reminded of that fact whenever you decide to stroll about the town of your new residence...which, btw, is full of people who don't particularly care for you, and will not hesitate to speak up.

3) You support the concealed carry bill that allows weapons to enter schools, despite the overwhelming objections of the state and local school boards....see point #1.

4) I hope you are held accountable for the water crisis, because that is completely inhumane, and inexcusable. The residents of Flint will potentially suffer, literally, for the rest of their lives because of your ineptitude. Those who said that if it were a white suburb in Oakland county, this never would have happened are 100% correct.

5) See point #1.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 0:09:55 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

Feb 12, 2016 23:17:59 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

The water crisis began when the city was under control of an emergency manager appointed by the governor (Snyder).

That man is now the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. You may have seen them on national news too recently for their appalling conditions.

I saw the mayor of Detroit speak yesterday, and he said the emergency managers have devastated this state.

I think that the water crisis will probably go down as one of the costliest and worst disasters in the history of our state.

Also, are you taking about Darnell Early? I think he retired or quit but I could be mistaken.

Yeah, Darnell Early. He's still serving as EM of DPS.

[hisno1girl]

Feb 13, 2016 0:20:01 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

I have said this from the start of this tragedy and I get lots of eye-rolls and replies of "This is not a race issue!!"

Yeah, sure. You just go right ahead and keep believing that.  

[DotAndBuzz]

Feb 13, 2016 9:48:47 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

Feb 13, 2016 0:20:01 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

I have said this from the start of this tragedy and I get lots of eye-rolls and replies of "This is not a race issue!!"

Yeah, sure. You just go right ahead and keep believing that.  

I don't think it started as a 100% racial issue (the piss-poor decisions that started this were financially motivated, although one could definitely argue that race ultimately played a subconscious/covert role in that as well), but race played a HUGE part in how it was(n't) handled.  Anyone who says otherwise is being willfully obtuse, because BULLSHIT that the authorities would have given residents of Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills a pat on the head and "ALL IS WELL!" reassurances if the tap water was suddenly brown.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 9:48:47 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

Feb 13, 2016 0:20:01 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

I have said this from the start of this tragedy and I get lots of eye-rolls and replies of "This is not a race issue!!"

Yeah, sure. You just go right ahead and keep believing that.  

Here's a C&P from the Genesee County Hispanic Latino Collaborative. My husband and I donated:

In the midst of the Flint water crisis, some families have been left behind. Critical information about the lead in Flint's water was not translated into Spanish, leaving many Latino immigrant families in the dark. Some distribution centers were asking for identification in order to get water, making it difficult for undocmented people to get clean water.

www.crowdrise.com/watercrisisinflint/fundraiser/geneseecountyhispaniclatinocollaborative

[bex1973]

Feb 13, 2016 8:17:21 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

Feb 13, 2016 0:09:55 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

I think that the water crisis will probably go down as one of the costliest and worst disasters in the history of our state.

Also, are you taking about Darnell Early? I think he retired or quit but I could be mistaken.

Yeah, Darnell Early. He's still serving as EM of DPS.

I thought Early resigned from DPS? 

[bex1973]

I actually don't think this is connected to the water crisis, it's not out of the ordinary for new leadership to replace with "their team" and she couldn't do that until the Emergency Manager control was lifted.

As we learn more about this we're learning that the former mayor didn't play as much of a role in the water issue as initially thought. Should he have forced his way in to learn more? Yes. Were his hands tied by the EM situation? Yes.

I'm just REALLY hoping she doesn't try to poach our campus police chief that would piss me off. I doubt she will though.

Oddly there was a rumor last week that Tolbert was resigning and he came out & said that was false.

Word of the is that many members of the FFD weren't happy with their chief so I'm not sure there will be a lot of fuss over that.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2016 10:58:54 GMT -5 bex1973 said:

Feb 13, 2016 8:17:21 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

Yeah, Darnell Early. He's still serving as EM of DPS.

I thought Early resigned from DPS? 

Huh, I just googled and he did. It says his last day in office will be Feb. 29.

Not sure how I missed that!