In light of recent complaints filed against Independence Township for discrimination and the arrest of Joshua Babe, a former Department of Public Works employee, current and former DPW employees have come forward to share their own stories.

Accusations of mistreatment
‘It’s a bad thing over there,? said Brian*, a former DPW worker. ‘There is a group of three or four people who have total control and if someone isn’t kissing their (butts) then they get in trouble.?
Trouble, such as not getting necessary promotions, constant bullying, and threatening by members of management, said Brian, is causing employees to leave the DPW in fear.
‘You hate going to work because you don’t know what crap you’re going to have to go through that day,? he said. ‘You have to constantly look over your shoulder.?
Included in the list of people Brian says are bullying employees at the DPW are Local 2720 Union President Jeff Cooper, DPW Director Linda Richardson and Sewer Superintendent Craig Richardson.
John*, another former DPW employee, shares Brian’s sentiments about the department.
‘They treated me real bad over there,? he said. ‘It got so bad there that I had to leave because I was so stressed out. I’m a healthy person, but I thought I was going to have a heart attack because they treated me and everyone else so bad.?
According to John, he and a coworker were reading water meters one day when a customer complained about their work. When Richardson called John into her office to confront him about the situation, John got mad and left.
‘Then she ran after me and grabbed my arm and tried to turn me around,? he said. ‘You’re not allowed to do that. Everyone saw it and didn’t say anything about it. No one will ever do anything to her because they’re afraid.?
Michael* said Cooper belittled him in front of nearly 40 employees at a union event.
‘He called me a boy, a baby and a punk in front of all those people,? he said. ‘Just think, if he said that to me in front of 40-plus people, you better believe if he’s accused of physically threatening someone off to the side (in the case of the complaint against the township), you better believe that happened.?

Cooper responds
Cooper denies any wrong-doing or threatening of employees.
‘None of that makes any sense to me,? he said. ‘It’s funny how things are done and they get carried away and twisted. It sounds childish for anyone to say that.?
Cooper also mentioned that no one has wanted to take any action and change the union because no one has ran for any positions in the union.
‘They don’t want to get involved, they just want to complain and run their mouths,? he said.
Trouble with Babe
Michael’s primary concern is how Joshua Babe got and kept his job.
‘He was a known drunk and slept in his car outside of the office,? Michael said. ‘It’s who you know ? that’s how he got to keep his job. Quite a few employees were scratching their heads wondering why he still had a job.?
According to Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Babe was imprisoned at Lakeland Correctional Facility last December for first-degree home invasion, and served two-year probations on firearms and drug charges in 1998. Release date could be as early as April, 2010.
Many sources close to the DPW say the reason Babe got and kept his job was because then-Sewer Superintendent Jeff Cooper was dating Babe’s mother.
‘It’s not based on your qualifications there, but it’s how long you’ve known a person,? said Michael.
Cooper confirmed he was dating Babe’s now-deceased mother at the time, but said it had nothing to do with Babe’s hiring. According to Cooper and Richardson, Babe started as a part-time employee and because of his hard work on the job, he was promoted to full-time status.
‘As far as Josh goes, he was one of our hardest workers,? said Cooper. ‘For anyone to say why he had a job, that’s all speculation on anyone’s part.?

In Richardson’s defense
Former Independence Township Supervisor and current City Manager of Keego Harbor Dale Stuart said Richardson was an excellent employee and manager during his work in the township.
‘She’s an outstanding manager of her department and certainly one of the best managers of the township and has been since she was put in that position,? he said.
‘She works efficiently and she’s an intelligent woman. I can’t say enough good things about how good she handles her job and how she only works in the best interest of the community.?
All current DPW employees, including Richardson, have been ordered not to speak to the press or anyone else about the accusations because of the on-going investigation into the complaint against the township.
However, since hearing the allegations of bullying in the department, many former employees and friends of Richardson have come forward in her defense.
Kathy Campbell, who worked under Richardson for nearly five years at the DPW, said Richardson treated employees fairly and never bullied or threatened anyone.
‘I’m shocked people are saying these things because they’re completely false,? she said.
‘I can’t even imagine how it started because it’s completely ridiculous. She didn’t hire people unless they were qualified and she’s not a bully at all. She’s honest, caring and she’s just a good person to talk to.?
Campbell said she worked in many of the different departments in the township and never heard anything bad about Richardson from anyone.
‘I can’t figure out why this would even be an issue,? she said.
Vicki Gentry, a friend of Richardson’s, said that two of the probable people bringing forth the allegations have ‘mental issues? and one of them has threatened to get Richardson fired if ‘it’s the last thing I do.? Gentry also speculates that the men accusing Richardson of bullying ‘don’t like female authority.?
‘Linda Richardson is a rare individual who possess integrity, fairness and impeccable character,? said Gentry. ‘She has more than earned her position and doesn’t deserve to be the target of delusional interpretations or outright lies.?
Steve Salter served as the assistant DPW director under Richardson for three-and-a-half years.
‘I’m kind of disturbed as to what I’ve been hearing as of late,? he said.
‘As far as bullying ? absolutely not. Linda has her hands full with things to do and she doesn’t have time to do any of the petty stuff like that. I think they’ve had things that they’ve felt slighted by, and now they see this as an opportunity to gang up against her.?
Salter feels there is resentment toward Richardson because she is a female in a male-dominated industry. He said, during his time in the department, there were many unfair comments and issues against Richardson because the men in the DPW felt she crossed the line as a female.
‘Quite frankly, I’m disappointed have to even discuss this,? Salter said. ‘This is just so absurd and it’s unfair.?
As far as allegations about Jeff Cooper, however, Salter said Cooper is a very vocal and strong-willed employee.
‘He’s not afraid to call a spade a spade and if someone acts a certain way, he’s going to call them out,? Salter said.
When confronted with the accusation they just want to see Richardson fail because she’s a female, all three of the accusers denied that was the case and said they just want to see the bullying at the DPW come to a stop.

Supervisor investigates
Township Supervisor Dave Wagner said he has heard the stories of what’s going on in the DPW and is concerned, but also said he thinks they are just rumors and ‘there’s not a lot of fact? to it.
‘The DPW director said these things are not going on, and I have said to her if they are happening, there will be disciplinary actions taken,? he said.
‘But, I think they (the accusers) are fabricating a lot of things. However, I will not tolerate this if it is going on. You cannot have a hostile workplace. Period.?
Wagner urges anyone, including former and current employees, to come forward if they see or hear anything that would be considered inappropriate.
* Sources who spoke only on condition of anonymity.