DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) - A Dearborn Heights police officer is out of a job and facing felony charges after he allegedly threatened another cop with a military-style knife while at work two years ago, authorities say.
And the incident is believed to be racially motivated.
Former officer Paul Graff, 33, was eventually arrested over the alleged assault and arraigned on two counts of Felonious Assault with a dangerous weapon on Monday, July 24, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed.
Graff was given a $5,000 personal bond.
Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart said via FOX 2 that the incident occurred in the department's break room back on December 10, 2021. The entire encounter was caught on camera, which was not been made public due to the pending investigation.
It is alleged that Graff pulled out a tactical knife on a fellow 23-year-old officer who is Arab, and attacked him twice. While the charges filed against Graff do not include hate crime offenses, a source disclosed to FOX 2 that investigators believe the assault was racially-motivated.
According to Hart, a complaint was filed 2021 prior to him becoming police chief. When he took over the position in 2022, an interval investigation was launched and the department took swift action.
"We went through the process and the officer was ultimately terminated based on this incident," Hart said via FOX 2.
According to Worthy, Graff's termination date was April 25, 2022.
Hart stated that every officer in his department is expected to make the right decision at all times — and he vowed to uphold that standard for as long as he is chief.
"We are drawn from society and sometimes we carry these things to work with us and do not make the best choices," Hart explained. "At the end of the day, there is an era of accountability that permeates this department until I'm no longer here."
Hart said the department is committed to improving itself over the incident and has invited a team within the Department of Justice to review how the department can run more efficiently and with better performance.
The chief stated that Graff's alleged crimes do not reflect on the other officers within his department.
"I just want to deliver the message that this is not representative of the police department we have outstanding men and women whether they are dispatching calls, handling FOIA requests, or answering calls on the street this should not be seen as a reflection of the entire department as a whole," he said.
According to Worthy, Graff's Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for August 2, 2023.