HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Hamtramck‘s city leadership got in a heated back-and-forth during a special meeting Friday.
The special meeting was called after police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and an officer were placed on administrative leave amid misconduct allegations.
City Manager Max Garbarino suspended the chief, surprising Mayor Amer Ghalib.
Ghalib doesn’t think Altaheri should have been suspended. Garbarino stands by the decision.
--> Hamtramck city council holding special meeting amid allegations against police chief
“If the people are innocent, they’ll come back, simple as that. If they’re not, they’ll get terminated,” Garbarino said.
Ghalib insists the investigation should come first, telling Local 4 the FBI was in Hamtramck Friday morning in connection with the allegations.
The FBI confirmed to Local 4 only that its members were in Hamtramck “conducting law enforcement activities.”
“My name was mentioned in those allegations in one section, and I’m sure 100 percent that it’s a lie,” Ghalib said.
Ghalib was recently nominated by President Donald Trump as the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.
“I’m leaving to Kuwait soon, if confirmed,” Ghalib said. “I could just say let them deal with this, but I want to ensure that a fair, transparent investigation is done.”
Garbarino said he selected a private firm to investigate the allegations.
However, Ghalib insisted he and the council have a say in selecting the firm.
“If he wants a third party, it’s not only going to be his own choice,” Ghalib said.
Prior to the meeting on Friday (May 23), Garbarino said he believed he would be fired.
After the meeting, Local 4 asked Garbarino if he still believes his job is in jeopardy.
“I think it was a pretty unequivocal decision by council that they were going to do the right thing and move forward and not terminate me and instead let the investigation take its course,” Garbarino said.
These discussions are expected to resume during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled city council meeting.