Editorial: What’s going on with the Belleville Police Dept.?

The public safety director/police chief wasn’t at the Oct. 6 regular meeting of the Belleville City Council and neither was anyone else from that department.
The Department of Public Works director wasn’t there, either, but later we learned she had resigned two weeks ago and the city was advertising for a replacement.
The interim city manager gave a report that one of the newer cop cars was in the shop at Gordon Chevrolet being diagnosed for the numbers that keep popping up on the screen. The newest Tahoe is not on duty yet because it is being outfitted with the front pushbar and graphics and will be in service by the end of the month. This was the one replacing the one that got wrecked.
Then, we learned that the department’s sergeant, who had hoped to be named lieutenant for a $2 per hour raise in pay and wasn’t, is leaving to work at the Metropark for $12 more an hour.
Another officer is having her second baby and after she gets off that medical leave at Belleville plans to work for Oakland County.
The police reserves are being asked to work shifts for no pay to fill in. That idea isn’t really appealing.
We’ve been told there are just five officers left in the city squad.
It would have been nice if the police chief would have been present to explain what’s being done to make it all better.
And, then the fire department has been cut back and has no duty crews to get service to the residents in a rapid manner. The city hasn’t named a fire chief since the last one retired.
But, the city is working real hard on getting a new city hall in place.