Two Detroit Police Department officers have been suspended without pay for 30 days after contacting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during separate traffic stops, in violation of department policy.
Detroit Police Department Chief Todd Bettison has said his goal is to fire both officers.
The department’s policy prohibits officers from coordinating with federal immigration authorities for enforcement purposes.
The traffic stops in question took place in December and earlier this month.
In the first case, Officer James Corsi contacted Border Patrol during a traffic stop on the city’s west side while investigating a felony warrant.
In the second, Sgt. Denise Wallet called federal agents for translation assistance instead of using the department’s contracted 24-hour translation service.
Both contacts led to the individuals being detained by federal authorities.
Chief Bettison initially suspended the officers with pay and stated his intention to fire them. The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to suspend them without pay for 30 days.
Sgt. Wallet, a 27-year veteran, filed a federal lawsuit against the city challenging her suspension and claiming it violated her constitutional rights. The suit alleges that she contacted Border Patrol only for identification purposes, on her lieutenant’s instruction, and seeks to block further discipline.
Following the board’s decision and the lawsuit, Chief Bettison announced on Friday that he was scrapping his plan to fire the officers, stating that he was satisfied with the suspension, according to a CBS News report.
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