Kalamazoo, MI, USA / WKZO | Everything Kalamazoo | 590 AM · 106.9 FM
Jan 25, 2021 8:37 PM
OIR Group meets with Kalamazoo citizens virtually on Monday, January 25, 2021. (Photo courtesy of City of Kalamazoo YouTube page via Zoom meeting).
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) Monday, the California-based OIR group held its second public input session regarding the response of Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) officers to protests held over the summer.
During this virtual meeting, citizens were offered the opportunity to speak in a public medium to voice their concerns and testimony. This was the second of two planned virtual sessions to collect information, with the first taking place earlier in January.
Kalamazoo leaders seek investigation of former public safety chief’s departure
Updated Jan 20, 2021;
Posted Jan 20, 2021
Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas apologizes for the arrest of MLive Reporter Samuel Robinson at a protest on Saturday during a press conference at City Hall in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The press conference was held after protestors and counter protestors clashed in downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, Aug. 15. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com
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KALAMAZOO, MI The Kalamazoo City Commission will talk about investigating the departure of the city’s former public safety chief, who city officials said “retired” in September. An investigation by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette later revealed former Chief Karianne Thomas was actually fired.
Citizens decry violence, police actions in emotional accounts of Kalamazoo summer protests
Updated Jan 11, 2021;
Posted Jan 11, 2021
Protestors stand in a wall of tear gas in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. After 35 to 40 minutes of reasoning with the police after violating curfew crowds were dispersed using CS gas and mace pellets. The City of Kalamazoo imposed a curfew from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3 after late night vandalism.Joel Bissell
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KALAMAZOO, MI During a virtual listening session held Monday, Jan. 11, citizens shared stories and eyewitness accounts of people being tear gassed and pepper sprayed by police officers this summer in Kalamazoo.
Thomas had served with KDPS as the Chief since 2017.
During a virtual meeting Monday night, City Manager Ritsema spoke on the matter, explaining why it had previously been said that she had resigned. The conversation began earlier in the meeting when an item was presented for approval, which would allow KDPS Assistant Chief of Investigations David Boysen to enter the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).
According to city documents, KDPS members are eligible to retire with an unreduced pension at any age after 25 years of credited, or age 50 with 10 years of credited service. The program allows those approved to defer their retirement allowance for a specific period of time, as long as that period does not exceed eight years. Documents state that this program allows the city to “retain valuable, skilled employee’s and aid with succession planning.”
Kalamazoo City Manager Apologizes At Commission Meeting
Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema was apologetic at Monday nights commission meeting for not disclosing a real reason on the departure of former Chief Karianne Thomas in September.
According to News 8 the contract for Thomas was terminated without cause but she still received a year of her final salary of $150,000 as severance pay. No clear reason for her leaving was given at the time although a retirement suggestion was emphasized in the statement released to the public.
Here is Kalamazoo City Manager s reaction from Monday night:
“When my team and I developed a message regarding Chief Thomas’ departure, our and my goal was to not harm Chief Thomas’ reputation. Her departure was not a punishment,” Ritsema said. I also wanted to ensure a smooth transition to the new chief Vernon Coakley. While factually correct, the press release and my discussions with commissioners did not mention the termination of the employment