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Resident raises allegations about prior police reports during public comment on chief’s appointment
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Summary
A Dearborn Heights resident told the City Council he believes past police reports authored by a former officer were improper and questioned whether the city's police chief meets professional standards; the mayor and council defended the chief and urged follow-up through appropriate channels.
Adnan Beydoun, a long-time Dearborn Heights resident, used the public comment period to contest earlier police reports he says were authored by then-officer Grzozowski and to question whether the city's police chief meets the professional standards required for the job.
Beydoun said a 2017 police report led to a warrant issued for his arrest in connection with a lease-forgery allegation at a business on Ford Road, and that he was not contacted or given an opportunity to respond. He said the case was ultimately dismissed on Sept. 5, 2018, and that depositions showed the signature in question belonged to another party. "At no point was I contacted, questioned, or given the opportunity to respond," Beydoun said during his remarks to the council.
Mayor Beydoun responded during public comment by acknowledging Beydoun's concerns while also publicly defending the current chief. The mayor described the chief as a long-serving member of the community who has dedicated more than two decades to public service and said, "I trust him." Another council member also voiced support for the chief.
Council members did not take formal action on Beydoun's statements at the meeting. The mayor encouraged Beydoun to pursue any outstanding issues through the appropriate administrative or legal channels and noted the settlement referred to by Beydoun.
Why it matters: The remarks raised questions about transparency and investigatory procedure in past cases and put renewed public focus on the standards used for police leadership appointments. Council members and the mayor framed their response as both an expression of support for the chief and an invitation for the speaker to pursue further review through official processes.
What happens next: Council members and the mayor indicated they would note the comment for the record and encouraged follow-up by the speaker and by city staff; no personnel action or vote related to the chief's appointment occurred at this meeting.
