I was at that meeting this morning and Mike Bouchard started talking out the side of his mouth. I don't think the people in the room were truly listening. He said he had never lost a contract, because the cities, most White suburbs, who hired him found it more cost effective to keep than not. Then he stated that he had absorbed many of these places former officers. Yet, he will only absorb a certain amount of Pontiac's officers, because he has to call back five (5) of his officers before hiring 63 of ours. Then he went on to say that our officers would be low men on the totem pole, coming into his organization, and that means "last one hired first one fired." So, when the county came into a financial crunch, our officers would be the first to go. He said he would leave all issues of seniority to the unions. He had no control over these matters. I know how that meeting would go, and you do, too. You know the natural personality of a law enforcement agent. They are very competitive and power hungry, and they really don't believe and submission or the spirit of cooperation with outsiders. Most local agencies even objects to the interference of the ATF and FBI, another local department coming in and moving ahead of them in the chance of promotion and the chance to go where they want will not be tolerated.
That means these men and women absorbed into the Oakland County Sheriff's Department will be sitting ducks. Just one inch from the door. Not only that, but when they go to hire more deputies in the future the chances of the same men and women getting back in are slim. They will more than likely either find other employment or choose other ventures that does not include law enforcement. That means all the new deputies will go through the rigorous process of becoming a Sheriff's Deputy the original way and not absorbed like those before them. That means the same process that has failed time and time again to hire young Black men from our community. Then what? That's the jest of my question about what happens in 10 years. Even if the men and women who are "absorbed" stay with the county for the remainder of their employment before retirement, who will take their place?
We know that our school system is terrible, and our young people aren't subject to the same educations as those in our neighboring White suburbs. Those who have the intelligence aren't interested in being a part of a law enforcement team. It takes a special person to be willing to risk their lives for the betterment of their community, and those who are smart enough to pass that test would rather be doctors, lawyers or something else. I know this, because although Bouchard is the most diverse law enforcement agency in Oakland County, he is the only one that has a large population of African-American who are a direct a portion of their demographic. But believe me when I say that although you employ more minorities, you don't by any means employ the disproportionate amount to the demographic make-up of those of us who live in this county. In other words, the minorities that he does employ do not equal the demographics of Oakland County and he should hire far more. That, however, will never happen, especially since there is a recession that means that not only are Blacks out of work, but many Whites are too. It is always their first instinct to employ people who look like them first, and to help their own. Thus calling back their officers with our money from the contract they get with us. Our money will go to aid Oakland County workers, before helping our own. That is not good or fair to us as a community.
He thought no one was listening and when I raised my hand and called his name, he didn't acknowledge, nor did he recognize my hand or seem to hear my questions. I started to make a noise like Arnold Horseshack, and "Ooh, ooh, ooh," him into hearing what it was I had to say. Instead, he cut his eyes at Pastor "Do what I'm told" Jones, who disregarded my hand and zeal to move on to those who knew didn't get what was going on. Yeah, Mike I see you and I know what your agenda is. Bring the head of your Investigating Team did nothing for me. I would leave my man if he sold out to your racist system. You see, I know he's number one and the best at what he does in the place that he is, and that's the reason he needs to stay who and where he is. His credentials and good work speak for themselves and he doesn't need me to solicit or do "back door" deals to secure a job. He was doing great police work, while I was gone due to the corruption of your's and our department. He is educated and knows these streets and these people better than anyone on your team and hiring him to work for you would be an asset. He doesn't need me to bid or make any favors for his employment. He is a natural at what he does and in my humble opinion the best!
What you men want to do is dirt. You want to help secure the future of your agency, by dismantling ours. In 20 years there won't be one city of Pontiac resident left on your sheriff's department. We will have been pushed out, retired and unable to get employment with you. What will change from now to then. Nothing. We will be total missing from your equation, pretty much as we are now. If you wish to offer my man a job, you know where he is and you can call him and ask him to join you. It would be a sound and equally intelligent choice to bring him from amongst the ones available to you. You need someone to help you muttle through our city. It would be unwise to enter these streets unlearned and without "good" help. He will do the job very well, and I have no question about that! But he looks like you, and I wonder if that would make a difference in your zeal to hire him, if he didn't. Sure he's plastered on the news and in the paper, but when have you ever cared how prominent and successful a Black man is. You still treat him with a "long handle spoon". Look at the way L. Brook Patterson treats the Blacks in this community; with ill respect and without a spirit of cooperation. I have stated that he doesn't deal with fakers. I'm not sure that the county government isn't full of fakers themselves. Liars, thieves and immoral sorts. I'm just shaking my head to the idea that you fail to think I know. Shaking my head at the idea that Mike Bouchard feels he doesn't have to answer me. Shaking my head that they are trying to steal our city and think we are really so dumb we can't see what they are doing.
Mike, you might be pretending that you don't hear me, and you have your little "errand boy" Douglas Jones, standing between you and the truth that you don't think the people know. But if you don't hear me, I hear you and in the words of Frasier Crane, "I'm listening".
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