Detroit Police Department Officers Suspended Without Pay for Calling Immigration Agents During Traffic Stops

EXCERPT:

REPORTER: "And we do have an update tonight on a Detroit police officer and a sergeant accused of violating department policy, calling Customs and Border Protection during two separate traffic stops. The Board of Police Commissioners voting tonight to suspend both of them without pay. In December, one officer contacted Border Patrol during a traffic stop on the city’s West Side. Then last week, a sergeant called federal agents for translation services instead of using the department’s 247 translation line. Both civilians were detained by federal agents. Chief Todd Bettison says DPD does not conduct immigration’s enforcement. He says his goal is to fire both employees. Their firing would have to go to a command hearing, a process that could take up to 21 days. Just today, a lawsuit filed by the sergeant in federal court alleges she did not violate policy. Sergeant Denise Wallet has been with the city for 27 years. She says she contacted Border Patrol because her lieutenant told her to. She’s demanding a jury trial.”