Who is Policing the Dearborn Police?
The recent arrest of two Dearborn police officers brings to at least six the number of men in blue over the past several 
years to tarnish the image of our city and our police department, an organization that has a reputation as being a “leader among police agencies in Michigan.”
Now, let’s be clear. We know that these half dozen officers do not represent the more than 200 highly trained and dedicated men and women in Dearborn who work day and night to keep our city safe. And there is no other city I’d rather live in because we have such a talented and hard-working group of officers.
However, these few arrests are a black eye for a police department that was formed in 1929 and today has some of the highest standards around, priding itself on having a response time of less than one minute; a top-notch crime lab; a SWAT team and state-of-the-art police equipment that is the envy of surrounding cities. It’s just sad that so few can tarnish the hard, honest work of 99.9 percent of the force.
Dearborn police who have made headlines recently include:
- Cpl. Alex Brian Ramirez, 42. He was charged by prosecutors last week with several felonies in connection with a bribery scheme that allegedly involved fixing traffic tickets.
- Cpl. Gino Soave. He was arrested last week and charged in a Macomb County court with tax evasion and tax fraud over a purchase of a boat. Because Michigan taxes are at issue, the investigation was handled by the Attorney General’s Office and the State Police.
- In 2008, Sgt. David Marshall was demoted to corporal for taking part of a deck of pornographic playing cards from a man’s home during a routine run in August 2008. “He was in the house, he saw the cards there and he took some of them as a parting gift,” Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly earlier told the Dearborn Press & Guide. “It was a stupid mistake.”
- Officer Daniel Saab was discharged from the department in June 2007. Mayor Jack O’Reilly said then that his discharge was unrelated to the charges brought against him in a 2005 trial. Saab in 2005 was sentenced to 24 months probation and fined $500 after being convicted of malicious use of a telephone. Saab was accused of making harassing phone calls to former state Sen. George Hart.
- Police Officer Edward Sanchez, 30, resigned in 2006 after allegedly consuming brownies laced with marijuana recovered from a criminal suspect. In 2007 it was decided that criminal charges would not be filed against Sanchez who admitted to baking brownies laced with marijuana seized from a criminal suspect. Sanchez contacted the Dearborn Heights Police Department on April 21, 2006 and told an emergency dispatcher he thought he and his wife were overdosing on marijuana.
- Officer David Finazzo was charged in 2005 with two misdemeanors, one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of leaving the scene of an injury accident.
We will be the first to say that it’s good that Dearborn is being transparent and bringing these incidents out into the public. Unfortunately, like teachers and firefighters, police officers are held to a higher standard whether on-duty or off-duty giving these types of stories a much higher profile.
However, the question remains, why is this happening in Dearborn and what is being done by our city and police leaders to prevent this kind of behavior from happening in the future?
March 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I think that it is also important to remember that out of 300 officers this represents 1/2 of 1 percent of the force. It is a terrible black eye for the department, but we also have to keep in mind these are HUMAN BEINGS and we all make mistakes, just usually ours are not posted on the front page of the newspaper. I thank the other 300 officers that put their lives on the line every day.
March 15th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
As usual, there is a rush to judgement by the court of public opinion…neither of the last two incidence have gone to court…maybe we should all wait until conviced before we commence the public floging
March 15th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
If one can believe the information posted at http://www.debbieschlussel.com
these recent arrests are directly related to the continuing fallout and federal investigation into the relationship between the late mayor and Talal Chahine’s laundered monies.
If true, this is a good thing—good riddance to those who betrayed their professions and the trust placed in them by Dearborn residents.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Mary, I agree 100 percent with you. We have THE best group of police officers and the best trained in Michigan. And that is my point, these incidents get the big headlines and tarnish the outstanding work the majority of these hardworking men and women perform each day in Dearborn. I thank them all for keeping our city safe and making me feel safe.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Mr. Deep,
With all due respect we apparently do NOT have “THE best group of police officers.” I appreciate your approach to journalistic integrity with your reporting but the back pedaling is certainly transparent. Do not be so surprised should you not receive any leniency from a Dearborn officer on your next traffic violation. Dearborn, like any other city, employs flawed human beings. We all are in one way or another, but to report the negativity and then try to sugar coat those reportings with insincere praise is down right insulting. My humble advice; obey ALL traffic and parking laws within the city’s jurisdiction.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:49 am
It’s nice to see there’s action being taken—-
March 16th, 2009 at 8:58 am
well put mary!
again this yet another example of overall greed in the “wonderful?” economic times that have faced all of us since 2001. we all know they will be let go and this gives the opprtunity for 2 new officers to join the ranks
March 16th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Sorry for the sad state of affairs in the police department, however, the last two haven’t been to court yet — as far as the ticket fixing — if its true he should get his from the system (which I’m sure he will), as far as the tax evasion, who hasn’t sold a car or something and undervalued it for tax purposes? Its not really a big thing, give him his fine, and let it go, he didn’t do anything that bad, whether you want to admit it or not (look in the mirror).
March 16th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I have NEVER EVER cheated on my taxes, income, taxable value, or any other purpose of defrauding the Government or any other person or group. To say that it is ok because everyone does it is inexcuseable!! GET SOME MORALS!! The reason I pay such high taxes is because “everyone” cheats on theirs.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I agree whole heartedly with Mary. Apparently some people think they are above the law, like certain individuals on the City Council. Larry sounds like “Geno”, an apologist and supporter of the ‘some people count and some do not’ philosophy which is pervasive in Dearborn and elsewhere. It is just wrong, period! Maybe part of the reason that Michigan is in such dire financial condition is because many people felt like Larry. Arguing that someone deserves the benefit of the doubt is one thing and is admirable, but arguing that it’s okay to break the law is not.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
By understating the sale price of the 54′ boat the cop “saved” $12,000 on the sales tax. That’s not chump change.
March 16th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
In the case of this Gino, they have been watching him for a long list of crimes over time, this is how they finallly got him!
March 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Old all day school mom I absolutely agree with you!
Unfortunately something tells me there is more to come out about your city. The people that have gone under the radar with their corruption are finally being noticed. “What happens in the dark will come to light”
Mr. Deep one comment and one question first this is a blog site it’s no longer that when you start editing what comes on and what’s kept off. Why are you protecting people that shouldn’t be protected and what do you think your going to benefit from it?
March 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
We’ve had other incidents a while back with other Dearborn officers as well, but having so many in such a short time, 3% of a department of 200 should be of concern. Even having one officer accused or convicted of any crime is not a good thing. Nevertheless, in the overly materialistic, ego driven world we live in today, it should not surprise us that some police officers find it hard to resist temptation.
With human nature being what it is, despite the extensive background checks and training DPD performs, since cities like Dearborn have decided to crack down hard on alleged officer misbehavior, I view it as a good sign that our city leaders are reinforcing that no one is ‘above the law’, including police officers. While I have an extremely high opinion of police officers in general, since police officers are held to a higher standard, we should expect no less than the guilty ones receiving harsher penalties than the rest of us.
Even though our crime rate is higher than cities farther away from Detroit, I still believe the rest of our Dearborn Police Department does an outstanding job in protecting us. Proof of this is in that they have an average 1 minute response time per the new chief, they are among the best trained around, we have one of few suburban swat teams and we have a police department that has tools that most others departments only wish they could afford.
We have had some very serious victim crimes happen most recently and these crimes happen more in the parts of Dearborn that are surrounded by Detroit than elsewhere. However, other than in these few areas at times, I believe we still have an incredibly safe city considering the circumstances and proximity to Detroit. I never feel unsafe anywhere I go in the city, I don’t see any visible street people, panhandlers and/or drug addicts walking our subdivisions or business districts like you see in Detroit, Inkster and areas of California I lived in. Much of the victim crime that is committed in Dearborn is by drug addicted, illiterates NOT from Dearborn. This has been the case for decades In Dearborn so this is nothing new and should not come as any big surprise to us.
Despite issues we have in Dearborn, most all of our other officers are among the finest around and I still believe Dearborn is one wonderful, safe city to live in overall. FBI statistics provided by LX a few months back prove that Dearborn’s finest has helped reduce crime in Dearborn significantly the past 3 years and this is something we should focus on far more than the few bad apples and the few bad incidents that could happen to any person in any city, regardless of social class or location.
March 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Mary you are supposedly squeaky clean as you say, but rest assured you are deceitful as everyone else. You have a little larceny in your heart, I’m sure. Watch out for the cops who are involved in criminal activities, and not the ones who are questioned about non-criminal activities. Mary you are probably a little crooked biatch, and you are trying to call the kettle black.
March 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Mr. Albano—with all due respect, please put down the Dearborn pom-poms.
As a lifelong Dearborn resident, the latest distrurbing incidents regarding our police department do not lessen my love for our city.
However, these are not a “…few bad incidents that could happen to any person in any city, regardless of social class or location.”
Au contraire–these are corrupt incidents that took place because of a corrupt administration which only is coming to light after the untimely death of our late mayor, who, unfortunately, was a pawn of crooks like Talal Chahine. And, don’t believe for one moment, there weren’t rewards attached to that.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Excuse me ABE. I am not squeaky clean, I never said that. I just said that I am not deceitful and do not cheat on my taxes. I probably do put too much garbage out some days, but I also leave my garbage men something cold to drink in the summer. Is that a bribe? Maybe in your book. I also have said that traffic was bad when I have been late to work when in reality I just couldnt get out of bed but dont worry I stay late and comp my time to 40 hours! I will say though that I can not think of anything that I do (going back to the age of 23, as my reasoning and moral development took until then) that hurts or even really affects others negatively. I find tax evasion, cheating on taxes, abuse of power to be three immorals that are completely immoral. I am sure everyone has their group of vises, but this is mine. It affects everyone, I pay more taxes (albeit the government would probably not lower my tax bracket if everyone paid what they were supposed to), or at least affects the services my government is able to offer. To judge me based on me saying that I think tax evasion is a terrible thing that not everyone does is pretty shallow. I did steal ONE time, a pencil in third grade and I got caught and my mom made me return it and apologize in front of the whole class. That knot in my stomach on the way to school that day, as I walked to the front of the class, as I returned that pencil, I never forgot that crappy feeling. I have NEVER stolen anything again. You have never met me, you dont know me, your name calling is nothing but immature and ignorant. What else would I expect from someone named ABE though.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Old All Day School Mom,
I guess I wasn’t clear in that I too believe anyone representing the city that is involved in any criminal activity should be prosecuted because it is a terrible example to set in such a good city. As I pointed out in my other postings, there most likely will be more relevations of criminal behavior and as sad as that is, when/if it is brought out, at least we now know that something is being done about prosecuting the offenders, no matter who they are.
As far as my pom poms, I still prefer to focus on the positives rather than the negatives because I still think our city has a lot to offer and I still think the majority of our city representatives, whom I disagree with at times, are mostly fine, hard working, dediciated public servants. I just prefer to focus on these and let the experts pursue and prosecute the guilty parties.
March 17th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Maybe someone should look at the deputy chiefs history of discipline, the rewarding of one of the officers listed above to the SWAT team and some of the other administrators who have crossed the line without the same judgement of their actions.
March 17th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I agree with Said Deep when he wrote regarding recent incidents: “We know that these half dozen officers do not represent the more than 200 highly trained and dedicated men and women in Dearborn who work day and night to keep our city safe.” But Michael D. Albano also makes an important point when he wrote that having so many incidents in a short time (3% of a department of 200) should be a concern.
I’d like to add that having three Dearborn Women Police Officers sue and win settlements (Settled in January – Lt. Karen Wilkes (Ehlert), Sgt. Susan Fett (Gomolak) totaling $235,000 and recently Sgt. April Begin who recieved a $57,000 pension for life, full medical benefits, $60,000 in retroactive pension benefits and $60,000 cash) for years of sexual harrassment, gender discrimination and acts of retaliation by high – ranking members of the Dearborn Police Department is quite a high percentage from one police department too (as stated in the Dearborn Press & Guide). One of these officers sued twice and won both her settlements.
Yes, Said Deep why is this happening in our Police Department?
I want the Mayor to explain what the new Chief of Police is going to do to fix the obvious problems in our Police Department that no one else has been able to do.
March 17th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Sorry!
My opinion based on information written in the Dearborn Press & Guide
March 17th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Mary you seem full of yourself. You sound like a dirt-bag and need this board to air out your b.s. Do everyone a favor, when you put your garbage at the curb, throw yourself in one of the garbage bags.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Ali-
Why the sharp criticism of Mary?
March 18th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Mary,
You made some good points. You said this:
“You have never met me, you dont know me, your name calling is nothing but immature and ignorant.”
You were kinda right, but then you said this:
“What else would I expect from someone named ABE though.”
What the heck does that mean? Are you making presumptions about the name Abe? Are you yourself name calling? What are you suggesting?
Please clarify.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Hold Deaborn accountable for it’s crimes don’t be so quick to point the finger that it’s the location of where the crimes are taking place next to Detroit. These are grown people who are choosing to do the wrong thing because at the end of the day we all have a choice and we choose the path we want to take in life nobody else does it for us.
Like everything that’s happening around the world with corruption it’s ending is surrounding politics. All of the criminals have to answer to someone and that someone at the top is usually a high rank person. Old All Day School Mom that’s where I agree with you accept the late mayor is gone, so whose running the show now. What’s Mark Guido doing to help this situation??? he definitely has insight on everything that has been going on before O’Reilly came into office
Now Gino is he related to Giuliano Onorato??? or was he just part owner of that unsuccessful restaurant and didn’t Giuliano own a nice size boat once??? It’s like that VH-1 show “Where is he now?” the links everyone has to each other just gets bigger..
March 18th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Interesting that Michigan Resident should mention Giuliano’s. I did see Officer Soave’s pictured in street clothes at the official opening/ribbon cutting for the restaurant. What I’ve wondered is whether Soave is related to the Soave family that owns Waste Management. Looking out my window at one of their garbage trucks reminded me of that connection.
March 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Old All Day School Mom :
Gino was part owner of Giuliano’s restaurant and he is related to Soave Waste Management.
I was looking at past post and I couldn’t help but notice that someone on the site posted a bunch of people that worked for B and S department and indicated that those people should be the ones being looked at as far as the department being in mayhem.
The one name that stood out to me was Delia Greco she was once married to Judge Hultgen lethal combination. I would definetely keep both eyes on her. She is as smart as a whip to smart for her own good…
March 19th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Remember this officer soave is innocent until proven guilty. Give the officer a break. The other officers were found guilty, screw them, but leave this officer alone, until proven otherwise.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I am not going to quickly judge the two Dearborn Officers recently arrested, as they have not yet been convicted. However, the charges are serious enough to cause their suspension without pay. I commend the Police Chief for taking this action quickly on the day of their arrests, as decisive action was needed for the public trust of his department (and City) and administration.
I believe that it is easy for people to be critical of police departments and police officers since any wrong-doing is a violation of the public trust, and unlawful behavior should be revealed. Dearborn has had its share of “bad” officers, but has also had MUCH MORE than its share of extremely proficient and professional police officers. I was a Dearborn Officer for many years before retirement, and have had many contacts with other departments and agencies due to my rank and experience. I know of the excellence of the majority of the police officers and the work they did, and continue to do from the local level to Federal level of law enforcement. Dearborn PD is still very well respected in the law enforcement community. It is very factual that a considerable amount of crime in Dearborn is perpetrated from those not living here, and we are surrounded by parts of Detroit where violent crime is rampant. This community is very safe, even with budget cuts and the fact that we now have many fewer police officers in Dearborn than we had in the 1950′s (FACT).
I too am concerned about the numbers of officers involved in criminal complaints or lawsuits over the past few years. However, we also had officers involved in wrong-doing well before the ones previously listed. Several were prosecuted criminally and sent to jail/prison, others were fired or let go. However, the numbers of police officer wrong-doers is very small, and their actions tarnish the badges of all who serve. Less than 1/2 of one percent of all officers nation-wide are alleged to be involved in criminal wrong-doing.
Being a police officer is very difficult and demanding, very few people can qualify and pass rigorous standards, training and background checks required of the job. Doing the job well has its own personal rewards, but it is difficult to be held accountable to higher standards than most everyone, yet be ridiculed and persecuted for perceived wrong-doing when performing those duties. I can only pray that the current Police Chief can turn things around at the Dearborn Police Department and I was personally very happy to see that the reigns were turned over to a professional from outside of the department ranks. Morale has not been great at the department for many years, at least since the mid-1980′s in my recollection. I will give the Chief some time to make a difference and turn Dearborn PD back into the greatly and widely respected department it once was, and will be again. A word of advise for all officers – your reputation and character is worth everything to you professionally, and to the people you serve.
I would like to submit the following for readers to ponder.
A POLICEMAN IS….
A policeman is a composite of what all men are, a mingling of saint and sinner, dust and deity. Cold statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscoring instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are news.
What they REALLY mean is cops are exceptional, unusual — not commonplace.
Buried under the froth is the fact that less than one half of one percent of policemen disgrace the uniform. That’s a better average than among the clergymen.
He is of all men, one of the most needed, yet most unwanted. A strangely nameless creature who is “sir” to his face, and “pig” to his back.
In an instant he must make decisions which require months for a lawyer. If he hurries, he is careless, deliberate, lazy. He must be first to an accident, infallible with diagnoses. He must be able to restart breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and above all be sure the victim goes home without a limp, or expect to be sued.
The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run and shoot where it doesn’t hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform, or being brutal.
If he gets hit he’s a coward, if he hits you he’s a bully, if he’s friendly he’s a flirt, if not he’s a grouch.
A policeman must know everything and not tell. He must know where sin is yet not partake. A policeman is a minister … social worker … diplomat … tough guy … and a shoulder to cry on. The acting father of a society that offers little support to him in return.
The policeman must from a single human hair, describe the crime, the weapon, and the criminal, and tell you where he is hiding. If he catches the crook he got lucky, if not a dunce.
If he gets promoted he has political clout, if not a dullard.
He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against a dangerous felon, who will get dealed out by a shameless lawyer, or an honorable judge who isn’t.
He also is a genius, for he somehow feeds a family on a cop’s salary. A token reminder of societies shameful unwillingness to pay him half of what he’s worth.
That is what a policeman is.
And thank God for that……………..
March 19th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
So now that someone from Building and Safety was arrested yesterday and there are confirmed reports that Ex Mayor Guido left a $9 MILLION dollar trust fund to his kids, what is the new administration going to do about it?
March 19th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Tom you are so right — this lt. you are talking about seems to believe he is invinsible because of his tie in to the brass. He is nothing but a drunk, ask the Dbn. Hts. police dept. about a run in they had with him. Yet the lt. keeps getting rewarded — I hope O’Reilly puts an end to this with him.
March 19th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Homegrown,
Oustanding message in my opinion. It provided us with information that some didn’t know and I especially loved “A Policeman Is”.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Francis-
Please send a link to these confirmed reports about Mayor Guido’s alleged $9 million trust fund. I am sure that many on here would be interested to see that. Thanks.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Make sure that the lieutenant that was investigating this case discloses his skeletons. I’m specifically talking about when he was drunk, and almost hit a dearborn hts. scout-car. Mayor do the background on that lieutenant, that is if you have the nuggets for it.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Seems the police isn’t the only department with a few bad apples, this past week a another Building & Safety employee was taken out in hand-cuffs and thier desk contents confiscated. When will this hit the weekly or daily news-rags.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
If you haven’t guessed the police(certain ones) and the Building and Safety department are scratching each others back and helping each other out, with the help of a political figure whose protecting them if it wasn’t true this would have been cleaned up by now.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Johnny Cakes: you think the Press and Guido covered the $9 million trust fund, I am sorry I cannot show you a link reporting it. I would love for it to get press but who will report it? No newspaper around here.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I’ve also been told (not because I asked or cared) that there is a Guido Family Trust Fund but that it is controlled by the late mayor’s widow and cousin Mark Guido and that the late mayor’s parents and siblings, et al were not included in the proceeds, again the $9 million figure mentioned. Isn’t trust fund information privately-held?
March 21st, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Day School Mom: Do you mean the specific information of a trust fund private? I guess it is only as private as someone makes it. I would not think the lawyer who wrote it or the bank that holds it should be speaking about it, but there are a lot of other ways people get information.
I guess my point about the money is where does a man making $120,000 (I think the salary is just under that) get the money to save $9 million? That is 75 years worth of income with no spending and no taxes. That just seems a bit outrageous to me. Kindda makes me go back to the rumors I heard that he was taking bribes when he went to Lebanon (sp?). Seriously, where does that kind of money come from?
March 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
From Wikipedis (see link at end)
Common purposes for trusts include tax evasion and money laundering:
Tax Evasion. In contrast to tax avoidance, tax evasion is the illegal concealment of income from the tax authorities. Trusts have proved a useful vehicle to the tax evader, as they tend to preserve anonymity, and they divorce the settlor and individual beneficiaries from ownership of the assets. This use is particularly common across borders – a trustee in one country is not necessarily bound to report income to the tax authorities of another. This issue has been addressed by various initiatives of the OECD.
Money Laundering. The same attributes of trusts which attract legitimate asset protectors also attract money launderers. Many of the techniques of asset protection, particularly layering, are techniques of money-laundering also, and innocent trustees such as bank trust companies can become involved in money-laundering in the belief that they are furthering a legitimate asset protection exercise, often without raising suspicion. See also Anti Money Laundering and Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_law
March 21st, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Why is everyone interested in other people’s business? Pay attention to the building dept., and the police department inner works (after all they are controlled by Big Jack — which is a joke in itself). I’m interested in this lieutenant, and why the mayor keeps shielding him. Why aren’t others inquiring about this? Its obvious, the mayor is afraid, that this guy might spill some info. on him.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:23 am
People dont be so naive…..these charges were just a way for the feds to get control, there are more to come…..he is dirty dirty…..they have been trying to get him since he got off the last time he was indicted!
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
It looks like the Police Department has not had anyone in charge modeling responsible and ethical behavior for a very long time.
Honestly, I don’t know anything about the new Police Chief except what I have read. But I think the Mayor probably has him on a short rope. I could be wrong but didn’t the Police Chief say he was only looking to stay a few years in this position? If this is true, what could he possibly accomplish in such a short time? Did he ever move into the city?
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
It never ceases to amaze me how so many people have opinions on everything without knowing much of anything. So many seem to think they’re experts and make so many unsubstantiated charges and comments against so many, it’s no wonder so many don’t want to write on these type of sites anymore.
Go get a life or read a book and learn something. Or else get involved and so something that will help. If you know something for sure, then bring it to the attention of a city dept head, councilman or mayor in person or on the phone. Or simply do what you always do, write on these sites and see nothing accomplished.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:47 am
Deputy Dawg brings up some goods points. So, why don’t we hold a seance and simultaneously coordinate a conference call to Talal Chahine, wherever he is….
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Deputy Dawg you sound like the lieutenant in charge of the detective bureau, or else you are one of O’Reillys flunkies — Give us all a break, and keep your pie hole closed.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I would go to someone with information if anyone would do anything. What bring it to a dept head, like they dont know what is going on in their department; the mayor with his cronnies who takes bribes, yeah Deputy Dawg that seems like a great way to get stuff investigated.
BTW, I read a lot of books, I have a PhD and “learn something” everyday. Doesnt mean anyone taking bribes is going to care about what I have to say about their corruption. thanks for the advice though.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
So doesn’t everyone see what’s going? It’s like the last few scenes of a movie when all the bad guys start going down, and all the interweaving story lines become clear.
Gino Soave, as anyone who is involved in Dearborn politics knows, was a henchman for Mayor Guido, worked closely with Daniel Saab, another henchman, and consistently harassed and caused trouble for people who the mayor thought needed to learn a lesson.
They were involved in harassing George Hart, firebombing Doug Thomas’ car (a council member who was at odds with the mayor), and numerous other schemes.
Does anyone really think that the corruption in the Building and Safety Dept and the Police Dept are not connected? They all go back to the former mayor, and his corrupt little cousin Mark Guido, who is still secretly running things. Mayor O’Reilly, who was elected on a platform of cleaning up corruption, has yet to grow a pair big enough to take it on… but that’s probably because he is part of it! He made a deal with Mayor Guido. O’Reilly got Guido’s political machine in exchange for not rocking the boat. Well, it looks like the boat is tipping over anyway. And people like Mark Guido are not going to have a life jacket. Remember, there is no honor among thieves. Don’t think all these people won’t flip on each other when faced with serious charges.
And I see a lot of people writing things like “people make mistakes.” Yes, people do… even cops do… But there is a difference between making a mistake, or making an error in judgment, and having a pattern of corrupt behavior. When a cop commits a DUI, he’s made a mistake… he’s not likely to repeat it. However, what these cops are accused of are patterns of corruption. They just finally got caught. These are the types of crimes that violate the public’s trust. These are the types of crimes they could only commit BECAUSE they were cops. That makes it that much more insidious.
This is all happening because the FBI was here months ago, getting all their evidence, and watching everyone who they thought needed watching, and it will come crumbling down… And we’re thinking of re-electing O’Reilly? This guy is part of the problem, and has not taken ANY action. When numerous people in Building and Safety get arrested on charges of corruption, the people in charge have to take some responsibility… Some heads should roll. Instead, the intellectual peabrains who run Bldg & Safety, Dave Norwood and Rob Creamer, are being considered for promotions?!?!? CORRUPT, CORRUPT, CORRUPT… c’mon, if it walks likes a duck, and talks like a duck…
So, people who have played the games over the years get hurt, like Doug Thomas (care firebombed), George Hart (harassed by Saab at the behest of Guido), and Hakim Fakhoury (who can’t get a fair shake from the city on his developments and gets stonewalled at every step).
Remember when Fakhoury stated in the Herald Times last year that he was being punished because he didn’t “pay-to-play”? How he said Mark Guido was leading the corruption? How he said the process was flawed and corrupt? And then remember how the city came after him and said he was out of his mind? Well, looks like he’s not that crazy after all…
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 am
Dearborns Finest,
Of everyone on here, you absoultely make the most sense to me and I do believe what you are saying because I’ve heard the same from many.
How long do you think it will take to bring down the entire house of cards and do you think O’Reilly will be brought down as well?
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
Deputy Dawg,
It may take too long, unfortunately.
The corruption here goes too deep and could take a long time to unravel… but don’t you think O’Reilly would have fired a few people already, just to make a point, if he wasn’t part of the problem?
These guys have turned Dearborn, which had the potential to become the greatest downtown area in Michigan, into a place where backdoor deals and bribery are the norm. And when that happens, the quality of work, consistency, and fairness all suffer. An while they might be able to “stick it” to a few people they don’t like, the citizens are the ones that end up suffering the most.
And now I see the latest post on this site from Deep, concerning Doug Thomas and paid parking. Said Deep, are you a newsman or an opinion columnist? You seem to always say you’re an unbiased reporter, but your post today basically calls Thomas’ proposal stupid (which it may be). But it really looks like you’re taking direction from someone in the administration instead of simply reporting. And considering the way Dearborn works, while that would be disappointing, it would not be that surprising.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I totally agree that O’Reilly should have fired anyone he was sure was involved in corruption and others that seem just incompetent.
I don’t know if it’s his lawyer background that makes him move so slow or not at all, which is typical of lawyers and our legal system. Or maybe it’s just that he’s not as bright as so many think he is. I think it may be the latter.
Either way, he gets away with his lack of vision and lack of progress because no viable candidates ever run against him.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Deputy Dawg-
I’m not sure you use that name just to not reveal yourself or your actually a deputy. I disagree when you said “simply do what you always do, write on these sites and see nothing accomplished.” Your being naive if you don’t think this site is being looked at. To the people on this site your voices through writing is being heard. I do believe some of you know that or you wouldn’t be mentioning all these names very LOUDLY. I do agree with Deputy Dawg when you said “get involved and so something that will help.” This process will go as fast or slow depending on the probable cause found to make an arrest. It would greatly help the FEDS if the people who have evidence on these certain people to bring it forward. If you can’t bring it to your mayor, lieutenant etc. then bring it to the FEDS.
Dearborn’s Finest -
You seem to know a lot and going through some of the past posts I agree with you. I believe you are right that this is bigger than what you guys are being told. From what I read here and have dealt with in my occupation I’m going to go out on the limb and say this situation goes outside of City walls as well. I have witnessed and agree the bad people will get weeded out regardless if people come forward or not, however, the processes of the longevity of this case will depend on the cooperation of everyone.
Unfortunately innocent people get caught in the cross-fire of any crime but that’s the ugliness of greed and power.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Excellent post by “Dearborn’s Finest”. It explains why law-abiding citizens had nowhere to turn to within the city’s administration to report corruption without running the risk of being harrassed by the late mayor’s henchmen. In addition to the firebombing of Councilman Thomas’ car, other folks who tried to question actions involving pay-to-play or other underhanded activities were subjected to bricks being thrown through the windows of their homes and worse. Too bad the feds took so long to get here, especially as there were reports that during the transition, files were removed from the late mayor’s office.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
In light of all the recent happenings and perhaps I am the only one who keeps coming back to this one conclusion: Jack O’Reilly is the most ineffective leader this city has ever known. Everyone thinks because some scandal gets in the paper or some shameful thing is brought to light that our Mayor is going to do something. We even say over and over “When is Mayor O’Reilly going to do something?” The answer, sadly, is “never.” Jack O’Reilly is no leader. Folks, we have to stop thinking that this guy has some hidden talent. It’s all happening on his watch, now. Unless he is forced, he does not take action, proactive or reactive. Only when his back is to the wall and if he is sure he has backing of a lot of other people, does he actually take what looks like a little baby step forward. Just enough to let the voters think he is right there, at the helm. He is waiting for the FBI to clean up his B&S department. Then he can say that he really didn’t have a hand in firing people, that he was forced. Has anyone perused the P&G today? Do you read the namby pamby quotes from O’Reilly? He says something’s gotta be done. Well, that’s you Jack. You’re the one who is supposed to get ‘er done. He says that major changes are coming. For two years now B&S has been under intense scrutiny. Jack O’Reilly even admits in the newspaper today that he has known for years and years and he even complained about B&S when he himself was a councilman. Well, Jack, you’re the Mayor now. You are the boss! We’re complaining to you. Clean it up, clean it out. What is he so afraid of? Why did he take this job if he cannot make any decisions (except by committee)? Two years now, and Mayor O’Reilly is still talking talking talking. But he never really does anything. He loves to hear himself talk. Dearborn citizens, how long can we go on this auto-pilot status? Well, when the masses re-elect O’Reilly, the answer will be: Four more years. Of nothing.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
The current mayor used to be honest until 2002. Until a former mayor made a deal with the current mayor. The fat lady (FBI) may sing yet.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I remember something like, O’Reilly was going to run for judge, right? The next thing you saw was the front page article and photo of him sitting chummy-like with Guido. Guido chose well. O’Reilly is the perfect patsy to keep the regime going. Hasn’t booted any depatment heads. There’s a couple of gals in the legal dept. who are actually running the City. He lets every outside agency come into his city and investigate his people, when he knows what’s going on. Always so that he can avoid making any decisions. This Saab character snuck under the radar, and the Feds couldn’t make anything stick. If any heads roll because of the Feds in B&S, then O’Reilly still won’t fire them. He’ll just figure these employees quit (when they stop coming to work because they are in jail.) I will believe it when I see it. Don’t put too much faith in the hands of the FBI. We should feel embarrasssed that it came to this, when O’Reilly knew of all the dirty dealings going on there and didn’t take steps to clean it up himself. I feel so sorry for the emplyees that are doing a great job. I am so disappointed in this Mayor. I was stupid, I actually believed he was going to get into position and really get to the roots of the problems. O’Reilly is obsessed with making sure the streets get swept, but he doesn’t sweep his own doorstep.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
What kind of deal did the former mayor make with the current mayor?
March 28th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
When Guido was on his deathbed, he offered O’Reilly his political machine (and a guaranteed win in the mayoral election) in exchange for keeping his cronies around until they reached retirement (aka their pensions kicked in).
This includes the corrupt conglomerate of Mark Guido, Dave Norwood, Rob Creamer, Barry Murray, some of the cops you’ve seen arrested recently, and many others.
Jack sold any morals he might have had to be a figurehead mayor… just running a long with the system…
Do you think it’s a coincidence thy suddenly became best friends right before Guido died?
March 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Dearborn’s Finest…take a bow. You said a mouthful of things that needed to be said publically & I’m glad that someone has the cojones to do it.
I belive that the FBI has just scratched the surface in B & S & hopefully many more heads will roll. As someone who has essentially been bankrupted by the abuses of power in the B & S dept, I will have a party (seriously!) if & when more indictments are handed down. I may even attend the trial.
At best, B & S is a highly disorganized, inefficent dept., with a few bad apples taking advantage–at worst they are a crime family of their own w/only a handful of honest employees.
I wonder where Soave got $285k for a boat…that’s alot of overtime on a cop’s salary…
March 29th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I want to write a reply, but don’t want to escalate the issue. But someone needs to write in there and ask WHY would Mayor Jack do anything that stupid, when he didn’t NEED the backing or machine of ailing Mayor Guido when Jack ran to take his place after Guido died. No one would have come close to beating Jack then and no one will come close to beating him now in the next election. So how STUPID and IGNORANT can people be to state that he needed Guido’s back when he did NOT need his backing. Jack was going to be elected in a landslide WITHOUT Guido’s support!!!
March 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Dynamic Duo is absolutely correct!
March 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I think that previous poster stated it, and that the deal was that O’Reilly got to inherit Guido’s political machine. That was the deal. It wasn’t a deal cut in order to get Jack to WIN the election. It was to put O’Reilly at ease when he did get elected; that he could count on the continued loyalty of all the people Guido had in place. O’Reilly didn’t have to do a thing when he got elected, except move his desk. This is a big plus for an insecure person like O’Reilly. I don’t think anyone thought Jack O’Reilly needed Guido’s backing to win the election. O’Reilly desperately needed encouragement to run for Mayor and not judge. He was assured of the old regime’s loyalty if he used his own family name recognition and took it over.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Joe Bananas and Dynamic Duo… you sound like apologists. But that’s to be expected by lackies.
I hope O’Reilly gets exposed for the fraud he is… he’s on track to lose the upcoming election to anyone. Pee Wee Herman could o a better job. With his mishandling of paid parking, Burton-Katzman, downtown West Dearborn, the FBI arrests, corruption, etc etc etc, he’s a sitting duck.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
mary m , Dearborn’s Finest ,
You both seem to have alot of hatred against the Mayor, maybe you two should get together and share a room in another City, say like Hell Michigan. Neither one of you have given any deteailed information, your just shooting your mouths off on unsubstantial rumors. Are you two trying to be the next LX ?, As it seems he has kept his big mouth shut lately.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Dearborns Finest and Mary M,
You two never cease to amaze me with your brilliance in always accusing others of corruption or misdeeds you know little to nothing about. I know the mayor and while we certainly have gone at it a few times, I know that he is not corrupt and I know that he is not stupid. In fact he’s one of the most honest, brightest people I know.
So far one thing I am sure about regarding both of you is that you both are obviously not very bright people.
Get your facts straight before you go slandering good people or simply move to Detroit where the council and former mayor think and act like you two. Even better, run for office and then see how it feels to have other morons slander your name. Of course in that case, they’d probably be right on.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
emanon:
“I wonder where Soave got $285k for a boat…that’s alot of overtime on a cop’s salary…”
Maybe he didn’t buy it but it was given to him as part of a pay up from his former partner Giuliano. You know that little Italian man owed lots of people money when his restaurant went under…
March 30th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Mr. Examiner, Mr. Trio, chill out. This is a forum to express views, to communicate with others. We aren’t supposed to all think alike. I want to hear others’ opinions. Unsubstantiated rumors? Look at O’Reilly’s record. What’s he done? Jack O’Reilly is a blob. There. I said it. We elected a blob as our Mayor. I never said he was corrupt or stupid. Just a blob.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Well, I’m saying he’s corrupt… and look, I can say it without calling any other poster stupid.
Look, there’s no logical reason to keep on the top guys of Building & Safety when their department gets raided by the FBI. Norwood and Creamer were either involved in the corruption or it was all happening right under their noses. Either way, they should get fired, because they are a liability to the city. That is what would happen in most companies or agencies.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Big Jack hasn’t got the balls to do anything — he wants the State Police and the F.B.I. do his dirty work, because he can’t trust his boys in the police department (like the guy in the detective buraeau, who wants to be Chief someday soon). Clean up your own immediate house, and show some balls, because you have lost a lot of respect from people who know you, and think you have become a joke.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I never understood why O’Reilly dropped out of the judge’s race, but was told that his late father, the former police chief/mayor of Dearborn intervened along with Guido, after the latter found out he had terminal cancer. I guess an interesting question would be who would have been in line to become mayor of Dearborn if Jack O’Reilly had stayed in the judge’s race (which he would have won hands down..)?
Would it have then been Tom Tafelski, as he finished second in the city council race, much to the chagrin of the late mayor, who illegally used the city’s warning sirens on Election Night to alert people to get out to vote, because Tafelski was beating Nancy Hubbard?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:45 am
No it would have been Nancy Hubbard. Thank God for small miracles
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
No, no, no. No! Nancy Hubbard as Mayor? You have to have said that as pure provocation. Any sane person can see that this lady is in the political arena for something to do. Her name puts her there. Yes, her sweet soliloquies, expressions of sympathy and all the waxing poetic she does about her father is entertaining. Really, she could do all that at every council meeting from a better position, say, from the audience. No one would object if she approached the podium at every meeting, and for a few minutes she could offer up those jewels knocking around inside that sweet, empty head of hers. Her seat on the council should go to someone new, someone productive. But Nancy Hubbard as Mayor? I read Terrific Trio’s post yesterday, and last night I woke up screaming.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
It’s no joke at the time she would have had the Mayor spot if Jack would have taken the Judge job, that was one of the reasons he didn’t and stayed on. From what everyone one else is writing is Bullshit, they don’t know 1/2 of the truth about Jack becoming Mayor, but I do know he turned down a 9-5 m-f job with close to the same amount of money, and he took a pay cut becoming Mayor from his last job. Guess he did it for the reason of really wanting to be Mayor.
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Terrific Trio you are spot on. our mayor took a fairly large pay cut to become mayor. what is the rule of thumb? never take another job unless it’s at least a 20 percent pay INCREASE. not so here. he took this job because he does indeed care about Dearborn. he is a good, honest man and while he has taken far too long to clean house in city hall, i say give him time. more changes are coming and more people will be going. he is going slower than we might like but it is happening quietly.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
The fact that Mayor O’Reilly defied the old Dearborn political machine by supporting
Judge Somers against Candice Abbatt speaks considerable to his independence.
The old machine has consistently used others to achieve its agenda of controlling city
politics. It wasn’t as important for Candice Abbatt to win as it was for Judge Somers to lose. The old machine is in its death throes. The Building and Safety Department
investigation, contrary to Tom Tafelski’s view of it as the acts of a single bad apple,
is systemic, and will be the final nail in the coffin self-serving corrupt operatives in the city. By the way, in 2004 Mark Guido, through his wife Lisa, borrowed $150,00.00
from the “Guido Family Trust” to pay on his home. According to reputable sources,
The “Guido Family Trust” has Nine Million dollars in it.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
FYI- Head of the “Building and Safety Department”, David Norwood is being transfered to the city legal department. The “Building and Safety Department” is an Infectious disease site that requires a quarantine. Let’s hope the Norwood move isn’t responsible for the transfer of a culture of corruption. Perhaps the move is to keep Mr. Norwood on the straight and narrow under the watchful eye of legal minds, some of whom, at times, need a little oversight themselves. Ellery Queen could not have written a more intriguing plot that continues to thicken with the FBI expanded investigation into the business arena. There’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights for some. Karma aside, justice is more fulfilling when it’s meted out in the present. When those touched by bad deeds receive restitution in monetary or mental form. “What yee sow, so shall yee reap”! Amen to that!
April 16th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Maybe Kwame Kilpatrick can get a loan or grant from the Guido trust to resolve his legal obligations. If any truth to a $9M trust, would be interesting how that much money has accumulated to that large of an amount from the salary of a Mayor making $135,000 a year.