Ex-Melvindale police chief says he was fired in retaliation

MELVINDALE, Mich (WJBK) - Melvindale's police chief was fired a few months ago - but now he's firing back with a federal lawsuit.

He says he's the victim of retaliation after speaking out about some possible funny business between a towing company and the city.

"Chad Hayse was a 25 year employee who worked his way up the ranks; he's not a new comer who parachuted into this town. This is a guy who has proven himself over and over again but he crossed the wrong people," attorney Deborah Gordon said.

Gordon just filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of former Melvindale Police Chief Chad Hayse.

Last August after a two day hearing the City Council unanimously voted to fire Hayes for willful misconduct, citing an inappropriate Facebook post, publicly calling the city and mayor corrupt, disciplining an officer without filing proper paperwork and asking officers not to give a tow company business.

But Gordon claims those were trumped up charges after Hayse confronted the council about supporting predatory towing and filling ticket quotas to boost the city's bottom line.

"It was only after he made his appearances and provided statistics and his concerns on what was happening with regard to people being ripped off for towing charges to provide more money to the city and towing company it was only then that this bogus list of charges were leveled against him," she said.

Gordon says the specific officer he was charged with inappropriately disciplining is the one who Hayse claims was boasting about going for 1,000 tows a year.

And his Facebook post was in response to the city supporting the unnecessary tickets and tows.

Melvindale city attorney Larry Coogan says they have not yet been served and will not comment on pending litigation. However he claims the former chief behind the lawsuit is a disgruntled employee likely retaliating because he was fired.

"What else is he going to say? Of course he said that, did he say anything more substantive that this is a disgruntled employee – no," Gordon said.

Gordon also claims Hayse never violated the city charter which would lead to a termination. 

On top of that, the city never followed the proper protocol to get rid of an employee which includes a written warning, and written suspension.