INKSTER, Mich. – An interim police chief has been named in Inkster, replacing the former chief who resigned after one of her officers was charged in the videotaped beating of a black man during a traffic stop.
Inkster Chief Vicki Yost resigned April 22.
--Vicki Yost
Taking over for her is Joe Thomas, a former police chief in Southfield. In a statement, Inkster said Thomas has more than 30 years of public safety service.
He was introduced Tuesday, and will likely apply for the permanent position.
"The city manager has given me the opportunity to make some new policies, and I'm going to do that," Thomas said.
"We're in very good hands with him at the helm of the Inkster Police Department," said city manager Richard Marsh Jr.
Two more officers suspended
Yost resigned after officer William Melendez was charged with assault and mistreatment of a prisoner during a Jan. 28 traffic stop. Floyd Dent was pulled from his car and repeatedly punched in the head, a beating that wasn't publicly known until WDIV aired the police video in March.
Thomas confirmed Tuesday two officers are being suspended without pay because of their actions the night of Dent's beating. Officer Phillip Randazzo is shown on video kicking Dent and then back at the station he appears to be imitating Dent. Randazzo has been suspended for 15 days with out pay.
The supervising officer that night was Shawn Kritzner. He shocked Dent with a Taser multiple times. He has been suspended for 30 days without pay.
Video: Violent traffic stop in Inkster caught on camera
A cocaine charge against the 57-year-old Dent was dismissed at the request of prosecutors. He claims police planted drugs in his car.
Watch: Dent aces lie detector questions about beating by Inkster police
--Floyd Dent
After the video surfaced, Yost met in public with protesters and said she understood their concerns.
Melendez has been fired.
Dent's attorney Greg Rohl released the following statement on Tuesday after Thomas' appointment was announced:
"Mr. Dent remains hopeful that newly appointed Chief of Police, Joe Thomas, will take deliberative measures to ensure a change of both philosophy and practice for the Inkster Police Department so that no further actions such as those suffered by Mr. Dent occur again."
Read: Inkster police officer's union says his firing is 'political'
Special Coverage: Inkster police beating investigation
Biography:
Chief Thomas has extensive training in police, fire and emergency management operations. He is a graduate of the Michigan State Police School of Management, the National Fire Academy (Executive Fire Officer), Emmittsburg, MD, the F.B.I. National Academy, Quantico, VA, the United States Secret Service Executive School, Washington, D.C. and is a Colonel (Honorary Commander) of the 645th Area Support Group United States Army Reserve and is the first Michigan Ambassador to the United States Army Reserve, who reports directly to the Office of the Chief Army Reserve Officer (OCAR) in the Pentagon and the U.S. Congress, and holds the rank, honor and privileges of a Major (two-star) General.
Chief Thomas was appointed to the Southfield police Department on April 8, 1991. He has over thirty-three (33) years of public safety service; as Director of Public Safety for the City of Albion, MI, and as a Detective, Sergeant, and Acting Lieutenant for the Police Department in Jackson, MI.
He is a member and holds office in several national, state and local police, fire and U.S. Army Reserve organizations; including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Fire Chief Association, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Fire Chiefs Association, Oakland County Police Chiefs Association, American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), Police Executive Research Forum (PER) and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), local and international Rotary and Optimist Clubs. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Thomas is an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, as well as Oakland and Muskegon Community Colleges. He also teaches at the Oakland and Schoolcraft Police Academies in basic and advanced training. He teaches at Eastern Michigan University schools of Police and Fire Staff Command. He has also taught special topics a the F.B.I Academy and the National Fire Academy.