It was back to business as usual for the Clarkston Police Department after Chief Ernest Combs was dismissed by a unanimous vote of the city council March 5.
Officer Jim Thompson was expected to act as interim chief while the city begins a search to permanently fill the position.
‘Everything is running as smooth as it normally does,? said Thompson, who is now the city’s only full-time police personnel. ‘All the officers are working their shifts and doing what they’re supposed to be doing. I heard a few grumbles that it wasn’t right what the city did to Ernie, but everything’s running just fine.?
Mayor Sharron Catallo, however, said while letting the chief go was difficult, she feels the city made the right choice.
‘I feel like we did what we had to do,? Catallo said. ‘It’s someone’s job, and it’s always difficult’but this was important for the whole community.?
Catallo said she personally received one resume, but the city is not looking to fill the chief’s position quickly.
‘You can’t make it an urgent decision,? she said. ‘There’s a process that needs to be followed when you hire a police chief, and that can take quite a while.?
One Clarkston resident and business owner agreed, noting her belief the city needs a police department more in touch with residents on a daily basis.
‘The biggest thing was visibility,? said Virginia Schultz of the Clarkston Country Store in downtown Clarkston. Schultz, who’s been at the location for 35 years, said she talked to the chief about the matter on several occasions.
‘The visibility factor was just lacking,? she said. ‘In a small town like this, we need someone who really knows the pulse of the village.?
The city has been approached by Independence Township and Oakland County officials, and is once again considering subcontracting with the township for policing by the Oakland County Sheriff Department.
In addition to Thompson, who spent 25 years with the Royal Oak Township Public Safety Department before coming to Clarkston in 2000, the city employs five part-time officers, and eight reserves.
Thompson preferred not to say whether he was interested in applying for a permanent appointment as Clarkston’s police chief.
Meanwhile, City Manager Art Pappas said Combs turned in his badge and uniform last week and was issued his last check, plus vacation pay he had coming.
Combs attorney Arnold Shifman said his client was out of town, and would make a decision about pursuing legal action when he returns.
‘I’ve read that charter until I was blue in the face,? Shifman said, reiterating his hope that Combs will move forward with litigation.
‘It was a wrongful discharge. Lawyers can’t guarantee anything, but I don’t recommend my clients spend money on legal fees if I don’t think we have a case.?