Memphis police missing guns, radios, evidence

A shotgun, two handguns, at least three police radios and a long list of evidence were unaccounted for when an outside agency studied the operations of the Memphis Police Department this summer.

The missing items were just some of the observations listed in a more than 100-page report prepared by the Macomb County Sheriff Department while it oversaw the Memphis Police Department from mid-June to mid-August.

The report, obtained by the Times Herald through a Freedom of Information Act request, recommended the city report the guns as stolen, locate or terminate service to the missing radios and give priority attention to the department’s evidence room.

The report also recommended the city rethink the employment of a salvage inspector, whose lucrative inspections pull in money for the city through activity largely located outside the city limits.

The small police department of about 9 part-time officers and one full-time officer has had four chiefs in five years, the most recent chief starting with the department in September.

Scott Sheets was demoted from full-time police chief to part-time officer in June. He filed a whistleblower lawsuit against city in August.

Kevin Sommers was hired to replace Sheets about three months after the demotion. The Macomb County Sheriff Department oversaw the department in the interim.

The sheriff department reviewed Memphis’ policies, procedures and inventory during its time overseeing the department.

“None of us are experts in police procedures and protocol so this was a service that the sheriff department did for us,” Memphis Mayor Larry Wilson said.

“We just wanted to make sure that everything was done correctly.”

Sommers said he met with the Macomb County Sheriff Department shortly after he was hired and reviewed some of its observations and concerns.

“There are some things that we have begun to work on and we’re looking to rectify some problems,” Sommers said.

According to the report, a police-issued shotgun and two handguns listed in the department’s inventory are missing. At least three police radios also are missing.

“Upon hiring a new chief of police, this must be a top priority to check purchase orders and documentation in an attempt to locate these weapons,” the report reads. “If not located, they should be entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) as stolen.”

Sommers said the department has recovered one of the missing radios and discontinued service to the others. He said the department still is attempting to locate the missing firearms.

“My intention is to do another audit,” Sommers said. “At that point, if there are still weapons missing, we do intend to put them in to the LEIN system, that they are missing or stolen weapons.”

More than a dozen items listed as being in the evidence room are missing. Among those items missing are nunchucks, a knife, two rifles and two shotguns logged into the inventory between 1985 and 1997.

“The audit revealed that there were many items listed but the whereabouts or disposition is unknown,” the Macomb County Sheriff Department report reads.

“The property could have been returned or destroyed but there are no records indicating a disposition.”

Sommers said the department is working to determine whether the error was in bookkeeping or if some of the missing evidence remains at a crime lab. He said the department will update its evidence processing.

“We’re finding individual cases where evidence was not handled properly,” Sommers said. “It has not been a widespread thing.”

The sheriff department also recommended the city rethink the position of a “salvage inspector” on the police department payroll.

A salvage inspector is someone who inspects vehicles people have assembled from parts to determine whether they are roadworthy enough to merit a Michigan title. A salvage inspector also ensures none of the parts used to make the vehicle are stolen.

The Memphis police salvage inspector charges $100 per inspection and keeps 75 percent of the inspection cost. The city of Memphis keeps the balance.

According to the report, the Memphis salvage inspector does 75 to 95 salvage vehicle inspections in a two-week period. The police officer working as the salvage inspector in Memphis has no other duties with the department, but must be certified as a police officer to access LEIN information needed to do the inspections.

According to the sheriff department report, the Memphis salvage inspector is employed full-time at another police agency in addition to his work in Memphis.

Memphis Deputy Clerk Jennifer Baranowski said salvage inspections brought in $195,810 from Jan. 1 through Oct. 31.

The salvage inspector kept 75 percent of those salvage inspection fees, or about $146,857. The city kept the other 25 percent, or about $48,952.

“This assignment looks to be a ‘cash cow’ for the city of Memphis and the fact that the city seems to be ‘in the business’ of selling Vehicle Salvage Inspections is troublesome,” the Macomb County Sheriff Report said.

“Few, if any salvage inspections are actually conducted in the city proper, and, by his own admission, the salvage inspector will go anywhere in the tri-county area to conduct salvage inspections.

“… Whether or not the city is compliant with the ‘rules’ as they pertain to the expenditure of the salvage inspection proceeds is outside the scope of this report.”

The report recommends the city limit its salvage inspections to those residents living in the city of Memphis.

Sommers said there are ongoing discussions with city officials concerning the use of a salvage inspector. He said the department also is working on its scheduling to ensure there are no gaps in coverage.

Wilson, who will be out as mayor after Tuesday’s election, said the council has taken the Macomb County Sheriff Department report under advisement.

“We haven’t made any radical changes yet,” Wilson said. “It will be up to the new administration. I think they won’t act in haste.”

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259, eleblanc@gannett.com, or on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc.