The Hamtramck city council approved the dismissal of city manager Max Garbarino during a meeting on August 26, and the city attorney stated that Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and another officer will also be let go due to.a report from a Detroit legal firm that determinedThe three individuals in positions of authority were involved in improper conduct.
The 5-0 decision to terminate Garbarino during Tuesday night’s council meeting occurred a few days following the release of Miller Johnsona 59-page report Claiming that Altaheri drove while intoxicated with police officers to a strip club for an officer’s celebration, along with other wrongdoing. The report also states that Garbarino did not “promptly address issues concerning Altaheri,” and that Officer David Adamczyk misused overtime and was connected to a stolen vehicle alongside Altaheri.
In a message delivered to the Free Press and other news organizations following the vote, Altaheri stated: “Ending my position is not only unjust for me but also detrimental to our city.”
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The city council has the power to terminate Garbarino’s position, but not Altaheri or Adamczyk, Mayor Amer Ghalib stated to the Free Press following the vote on Tuesday night.
The council decided to vote on Max’s removal as it falls under their authority, and the choice to end the chief’s and Dave (Adamczyk)’s employment was handed to the acting city manager because he is in charge of that,” Ghalib said to the Free Press. “If the city council votes to remove them, they would be going beyond their limits.
The council reached its decision following an extended private meeting that lasted over an hour.
At the council gathering, city attorney Odey Meroueh stated that both Altaheri and Adamczyk will be terminated.
We’ve reached the unavoidable conclusion, unfortunately, based on the evidence provided and the findings (in the Miller Johnson report), that we must dismiss the chief of police, Jamiel Altaheri,” Meroueh stated. “We will also be taking action against Officer Adamczyk.
Concerning Adamczyk, Meroueh, and Ghalib, they stated that the city must adhere to the terms of the union contract when terminating him.
“There’s a clause in Officer Dave’s contract stating he must be given 10 days’ notice if he’s terminated, so they’ll need to adhere to that procedure,” Ghalib explained.
At the gathering, Meroueh mentioned concerning the termination of Adamczyk, “we must adhere to the provisions of his contract.”
Meroueh stated to the Free Press following the vote that “according to the City Charter, the Council lacks the power to discipline or dismiss department heads or staff — this responsibility belongs exclusively to the City Manager. Because of this, the Council instructed the Acting City Manager to handle the matter concerning the Police Chief and the officer.”
The city council’s decision marks the most recent event related to three instances of suspected corruption within the city. Two city council members, Mohammed Kamrul Hassan and Muhtasin Rahman Sadman, who were present and cast their votes during Tuesday’s meeting, werecharged with voter fraud earlier this month.Furthermore, a State Police inquiry is examining if two additional city council members provided false information regarding their residence, as an investigator alleged they actually lived outside the city.
At the gathering, Diane Elizabeth Frkan, a local resident and former Hamtramck city council hopeful who did not succeed in the August primary, expressed she was “deeply concerned” about the inappropriate behavior of municipal officials.
I am furious… our police chief was driving while intoxicated… risking lives,” she stated. “This incident could have resulted in severe injury or even death.
As for council members Hassan and Sadman, Frkan stated, “They ought to step down or be dismissed from their roles.”
Altaheri questioned the fairness of procedures in his statement released on Tuesday.
During my tenure as Chief, my main focus has always been the safety and welfare of Hamtramck’s residents,” the police chief stated. “With my guidance, we have increased community engagement, established stronger relationships with locals and businesses, and made efforts to update the department. It’s disappointing that these achievements are being overlooked by a process that ignores proper procedures and equity.
He stated, “I am dedicated to protecting my image via the legal system and making sure the facts come to light.”
His lawyer, Amir Makled, stated: “The suggestion put forward by the Hamtramck City Council this evening, although disappointing, was expected, particularly considering the atmosphere fostered by former Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino, who led a campaign of intimidation and retaliation against Police Chief Altaheri.”
Garbarino and Adamczyk were unavailable for response. They initiated a legal action in June against the city, accusing it of discrimination against white individuals.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com, X @nwarikoo or Facebook @nwarikoo
This tale was revised to include a video.
This piece first was published in the Detroit Free Press:Hamtramck officials terminate the city manager while moving forward with plans to dismiss the police chief and an officer
