Who is Policing the Dearborn Police?
The recent arrest of two Dearborn police officers brings to at least six the number of men in blue over the past several 
years to tarnish the image of our city and our police department, an organization that has a reputation as being a “leader among police agencies in Michigan.”
Now, let’s be clear. We know that these half dozen officers do not represent the more than 200 highly trained and dedicated men and women in Dearborn who work day and night to keep our city safe. And there is no other city I’d rather live in because we have such a talented and hard-working group of officers.
However, these few arrests are a black eye for a police department that was formed in 1929 and today has some of the highest standards around, priding itself on having a response time of less than one minute; a top-notch crime lab; a SWAT team and state-of-the-art police equipment that is the envy of surrounding cities. It’s just sad that so few can tarnish the hard, honest work of 99.9 percent of the force.
Dearborn police who have made headlines recently include:
- Cpl. Alex Brian Ramirez, 42. He was charged by prosecutors last week with several felonies in connection with a bribery scheme that allegedly involved fixing traffic tickets.
- Cpl. Gino Soave. He was arrested last week and charged in a Macomb County court with tax evasion and tax fraud over a purchase of a boat. Because Michigan taxes are at issue, the investigation was handled by the Attorney General’s Office and the State Police.
- In 2008, Sgt. David Marshall was demoted to corporal for taking part of a deck of pornographic playing cards from a man’s home during a routine run in August 2008. “He was in the house, he saw the cards there and he took some of them as a parting gift,” Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly earlier told the Dearborn Press & Guide. “It was a stupid mistake.”
- Officer Daniel Saab was discharged from the department in June 2007. Mayor Jack O’Reilly said then that his discharge was unrelated to the charges brought against him in a 2005 trial. Saab in 2005 was sentenced to 24 months probation and fined $500 after being convicted of malicious use of a telephone. Saab was accused of making harassing phone calls to former state Sen. George Hart.
- Police Officer Edward Sanchez, 30, resigned in 2006 after allegedly consuming brownies laced with marijuana recovered from a criminal suspect. In 2007 it was decided that criminal charges would not be filed against Sanchez who admitted to baking brownies laced with marijuana seized from a criminal suspect. Sanchez contacted the Dearborn Heights Police Department on April 21, 2006 and told an emergency dispatcher he thought he and his wife were overdosing on marijuana.
- Officer David Finazzo was charged in 2005 with two misdemeanors, one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of leaving the scene of an injury accident.
We will be the first to say that it’s good that Dearborn is being transparent and bringing these incidents out into the public. Unfortunately, like teachers and firefighters, police officers are held to a higher standard whether on-duty or off-duty giving these types of stories a much higher profile.
However, the question remains, why is this happening in Dearborn and what is being done by our city and police leaders to prevent this kind of behavior from happening in the future?
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I totally agree that O’Reilly should have fired anyone he was sure was involved in corruption and others that seem just incompetent.
I don’t know if it’s his lawyer background that makes him move so slow or not at all, which is typical of lawyers and our legal system. Or maybe it’s just that he’s not as bright as so many think he is. I think it may be the latter.
Either way, he gets away with his lack of vision and lack of progress because no viable candidates ever run against him.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Deputy Dawg-
I’m not sure you use that name just to not reveal yourself or your actually a deputy. I disagree when you said “simply do what you always do, write on these sites and see nothing accomplished.” Your being naive if you don’t think this site is being looked at. To the people on this site your voices through writing is being heard. I do believe some of you know that or you wouldn’t be mentioning all these names very LOUDLY. I do agree with Deputy Dawg when you said “get involved and so something that will help.” This process will go as fast or slow depending on the probable cause found to make an arrest. It would greatly help the FEDS if the people who have evidence on these certain people to bring it forward. If you can’t bring it to your mayor, lieutenant etc. then bring it to the FEDS.
Dearborn’s Finest –
You seem to know a lot and going through some of the past posts I agree with you. I believe you are right that this is bigger than what you guys are being told. From what I read here and have dealt with in my occupation I’m going to go out on the limb and say this situation goes outside of City walls as well. I have witnessed and agree the bad people will get weeded out regardless if people come forward or not, however, the processes of the longevity of this case will depend on the cooperation of everyone.
Unfortunately innocent people get caught in the cross-fire of any crime but that’s the ugliness of greed and power.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Excellent post by “Dearborn’s Finest”. It explains why law-abiding citizens had nowhere to turn to within the city’s administration to report corruption without running the risk of being harrassed by the late mayor’s henchmen. In addition to the firebombing of Councilman Thomas’ car, other folks who tried to question actions involving pay-to-play or other underhanded activities were subjected to bricks being thrown through the windows of their homes and worse. Too bad the feds took so long to get here, especially as there were reports that during the transition, files were removed from the late mayor’s office.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
In light of all the recent happenings and perhaps I am the only one who keeps coming back to this one conclusion: Jack O’Reilly is the most ineffective leader this city has ever known. Everyone thinks because some scandal gets in the paper or some shameful thing is brought to light that our Mayor is going to do something. We even say over and over “When is Mayor O’Reilly going to do something?” The answer, sadly, is “never.” Jack O’Reilly is no leader. Folks, we have to stop thinking that this guy has some hidden talent. It’s all happening on his watch, now. Unless he is forced, he does not take action, proactive or reactive. Only when his back is to the wall and if he is sure he has backing of a lot of other people, does he actually take what looks like a little baby step forward. Just enough to let the voters think he is right there, at the helm. He is waiting for the FBI to clean up his B&S department. Then he can say that he really didn’t have a hand in firing people, that he was forced. Has anyone perused the P&G today? Do you read the namby pamby quotes from O’Reilly? He says something’s gotta be done. Well, that’s you Jack. You’re the one who is supposed to get ‘er done. He says that major changes are coming. For two years now B&S has been under intense scrutiny. Jack O’Reilly even admits in the newspaper today that he has known for years and years and he even complained about B&S when he himself was a councilman. Well, Jack, you’re the Mayor now. You are the boss! We’re complaining to you. Clean it up, clean it out. What is he so afraid of? Why did he take this job if he cannot make any decisions (except by committee)? Two years now, and Mayor O’Reilly is still talking talking talking. But he never really does anything. He loves to hear himself talk. Dearborn citizens, how long can we go on this auto-pilot status? Well, when the masses re-elect O’Reilly, the answer will be: Four more years. Of nothing.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
The current mayor used to be honest until 2002. Until a former mayor made a deal with the current mayor. The fat lady (FBI) may sing yet.
March 26th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I remember something like, O’Reilly was going to run for judge, right? The next thing you saw was the front page article and photo of him sitting chummy-like with Guido. Guido chose well. O’Reilly is the perfect patsy to keep the regime going. Hasn’t booted any depatment heads. There’s a couple of gals in the legal dept. who are actually running the City. He lets every outside agency come into his city and investigate his people, when he knows what’s going on. Always so that he can avoid making any decisions. This Saab character snuck under the radar, and the Feds couldn’t make anything stick. If any heads roll because of the Feds in B&S, then O’Reilly still won’t fire them. He’ll just figure these employees quit (when they stop coming to work because they are in jail.) I will believe it when I see it. Don’t put too much faith in the hands of the FBI. We should feel embarrasssed that it came to this, when O’Reilly knew of all the dirty dealings going on there and didn’t take steps to clean it up himself. I feel so sorry for the emplyees that are doing a great job. I am so disappointed in this Mayor. I was stupid, I actually believed he was going to get into position and really get to the roots of the problems. O’Reilly is obsessed with making sure the streets get swept, but he doesn’t sweep his own doorstep.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
What kind of deal did the former mayor make with the current mayor?
March 28th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
When Guido was on his deathbed, he offered O’Reilly his political machine (and a guaranteed win in the mayoral election) in exchange for keeping his cronies around until they reached retirement (aka their pensions kicked in).
This includes the corrupt conglomerate of Mark Guido, Dave Norwood, Rob Creamer, Barry Murray, some of the cops you’ve seen arrested recently, and many others.
Jack sold any morals he might have had to be a figurehead mayor… just running a long with the system…
Do you think it’s a coincidence thy suddenly became best friends right before Guido died?
March 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Dearborn’s Finest…take a bow. You said a mouthful of things that needed to be said publically & I’m glad that someone has the cojones to do it.
I belive that the FBI has just scratched the surface in B & S & hopefully many more heads will roll. As someone who has essentially been bankrupted by the abuses of power in the B & S dept, I will have a party (seriously!) if & when more indictments are handed down. I may even attend the trial.
At best, B & S is a highly disorganized, inefficent dept., with a few bad apples taking advantage–at worst they are a crime family of their own w/only a handful of honest employees.
I wonder where Soave got $285k for a boat…that’s alot of overtime on a cop’s salary…
March 29th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I want to write a reply, but don’t want to escalate the issue. But someone needs to write in there and ask WHY would Mayor Jack do anything that stupid, when he didn’t NEED the backing or machine of ailing Mayor Guido when Jack ran to take his place after Guido died. No one would have come close to beating Jack then and no one will come close to beating him now in the next election. So how STUPID and IGNORANT can people be to state that he needed Guido’s back when he did NOT need his backing. Jack was going to be elected in a landslide WITHOUT Guido’s support!!!
March 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Dynamic Duo is absolutely correct!
March 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I think that previous poster stated it, and that the deal was that O’Reilly got to inherit Guido’s political machine. That was the deal. It wasn’t a deal cut in order to get Jack to WIN the election. It was to put O’Reilly at ease when he did get elected; that he could count on the continued loyalty of all the people Guido had in place. O’Reilly didn’t have to do a thing when he got elected, except move his desk. This is a big plus for an insecure person like O’Reilly. I don’t think anyone thought Jack O’Reilly needed Guido’s backing to win the election. O’Reilly desperately needed encouragement to run for Mayor and not judge. He was assured of the old regime’s loyalty if he used his own family name recognition and took it over.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Joe Bananas and Dynamic Duo… you sound like apologists. But that’s to be expected by lackies.
I hope O’Reilly gets exposed for the fraud he is… he’s on track to lose the upcoming election to anyone. Pee Wee Herman could o a better job. With his mishandling of paid parking, Burton-Katzman, downtown West Dearborn, the FBI arrests, corruption, etc etc etc, he’s a sitting duck.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
mary m , Dearborn’s Finest ,
You both seem to have alot of hatred against the Mayor, maybe you two should get together and share a room in another City, say like Hell Michigan. Neither one of you have given any deteailed information, your just shooting your mouths off on unsubstantial rumors. Are you two trying to be the next LX ?, As it seems he has kept his big mouth shut lately.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Dearborns Finest and Mary M,
You two never cease to amaze me with your brilliance in always accusing others of corruption or misdeeds you know little to nothing about. I know the mayor and while we certainly have gone at it a few times, I know that he is not corrupt and I know that he is not stupid. In fact he’s one of the most honest, brightest people I know.
So far one thing I am sure about regarding both of you is that you both are obviously not very bright people.
Get your facts straight before you go slandering good people or simply move to Detroit where the council and former mayor think and act like you two. Even better, run for office and then see how it feels to have other morons slander your name. Of course in that case, they’d probably be right on.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
emanon:
“I wonder where Soave got $285k for a boat…that’s alot of overtime on a cop’s salary…”
Maybe he didn’t buy it but it was given to him as part of a pay up from his former partner Giuliano. You know that little Italian man owed lots of people money when his restaurant went under…
March 30th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Mr. Examiner, Mr. Trio, chill out. This is a forum to express views, to communicate with others. We aren’t supposed to all think alike. I want to hear others’ opinions. Unsubstantiated rumors? Look at O’Reilly’s record. What’s he done? Jack O’Reilly is a blob. There. I said it. We elected a blob as our Mayor. I never said he was corrupt or stupid. Just a blob.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Well, I’m saying he’s corrupt… and look, I can say it without calling any other poster stupid.
Look, there’s no logical reason to keep on the top guys of Building & Safety when their department gets raided by the FBI. Norwood and Creamer were either involved in the corruption or it was all happening right under their noses. Either way, they should get fired, because they are a liability to the city. That is what would happen in most companies or agencies.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Big Jack hasn’t got the balls to do anything — he wants the State Police and the F.B.I. do his dirty work, because he can’t trust his boys in the police department (like the guy in the detective buraeau, who wants to be Chief someday soon). Clean up your own immediate house, and show some balls, because you have lost a lot of respect from people who know you, and think you have become a joke.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I never understood why O’Reilly dropped out of the judge’s race, but was told that his late father, the former police chief/mayor of Dearborn intervened along with Guido, after the latter found out he had terminal cancer. I guess an interesting question would be who would have been in line to become mayor of Dearborn if Jack O’Reilly had stayed in the judge’s race (which he would have won hands down..)?
Would it have then been Tom Tafelski, as he finished second in the city council race, much to the chagrin of the late mayor, who illegally used the city’s warning sirens on Election Night to alert people to get out to vote, because Tafelski was beating Nancy Hubbard?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:45 am
No it would have been Nancy Hubbard. Thank God for small miracles
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
No, no, no. No! Nancy Hubbard as Mayor? You have to have said that as pure provocation. Any sane person can see that this lady is in the political arena for something to do. Her name puts her there. Yes, her sweet soliloquies, expressions of sympathy and all the waxing poetic she does about her father is entertaining. Really, she could do all that at every council meeting from a better position, say, from the audience. No one would object if she approached the podium at every meeting, and for a few minutes she could offer up those jewels knocking around inside that sweet, empty head of hers. Her seat on the council should go to someone new, someone productive. But Nancy Hubbard as Mayor? I read Terrific Trio’s post yesterday, and last night I woke up screaming.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
It’s no joke at the time she would have had the Mayor spot if Jack would have taken the Judge job, that was one of the reasons he didn’t and stayed on. From what everyone one else is writing is Bullshit, they don’t know 1/2 of the truth about Jack becoming Mayor, but I do know he turned down a 9-5 m-f job with close to the same amount of money, and he took a pay cut becoming Mayor from his last job. Guess he did it for the reason of really wanting to be Mayor.
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Terrific Trio you are spot on. our mayor took a fairly large pay cut to become mayor. what is the rule of thumb? never take another job unless it’s at least a 20 percent pay INCREASE. not so here. he took this job because he does indeed care about Dearborn. he is a good, honest man and while he has taken far too long to clean house in city hall, i say give him time. more changes are coming and more people will be going. he is going slower than we might like but it is happening quietly.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
The fact that Mayor O’Reilly defied the old Dearborn political machine by supporting
Judge Somers against Candice Abbatt speaks considerable to his independence.
The old machine has consistently used others to achieve its agenda of controlling city
politics. It wasn’t as important for Candice Abbatt to win as it was for Judge Somers to lose. The old machine is in its death throes. The Building and Safety Department
investigation, contrary to Tom Tafelski’s view of it as the acts of a single bad apple,
is systemic, and will be the final nail in the coffin self-serving corrupt operatives in the city. By the way, in 2004 Mark Guido, through his wife Lisa, borrowed $150,00.00
from the “Guido Family Trust” to pay on his home. According to reputable sources,
The “Guido Family Trust” has Nine Million dollars in it.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
FYI- Head of the “Building and Safety Department”, David Norwood is being transfered to the city legal department. The “Building and Safety Department” is an Infectious disease site that requires a quarantine. Let’s hope the Norwood move isn’t responsible for the transfer of a culture of corruption. Perhaps the move is to keep Mr. Norwood on the straight and narrow under the watchful eye of legal minds, some of whom, at times, need a little oversight themselves. Ellery Queen could not have written a more intriguing plot that continues to thicken with the FBI expanded investigation into the business arena. There’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights for some. Karma aside, justice is more fulfilling when it’s meted out in the present. When those touched by bad deeds receive restitution in monetary or mental form. “What yee sow, so shall yee reap”! Amen to that!
April 16th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Maybe Kwame Kilpatrick can get a loan or grant from the Guido trust to resolve his legal obligations. If any truth to a $9M trust, would be interesting how that much money has accumulated to that large of an amount from the salary of a Mayor making $135,000 a year.
December 9th, 2011 at 11:07 am
I was assaulted by Dearborn Police twice. Dearborn Police has not investigated the incidents. State Police refused. I went to the Prosecutors office and nothing happened. I am a Dearborn resident.