WESTLAND (WWJ) – Westland Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik has stepped down after controversial videos recently surfaced from over more than two decades ago.
In the videos, Jedrusik is shown allegedly humiliating people when he was working as a patrol officer in Westland over 20 years ago.
Jedrusik and city administrators agreed on a mutual separation, officials announced Wednesday. Mayor Michael Londreau said in a statement he will work with interim Police Chief Kyle Dawley to "ensure we have a smooth and seamless transition," according to WXYZ in Detroit.
"We have always been dedicated to building strong relationships with all of our residents, regardless of their background or circumstances, and I believe that this decision is in the best interests of our city and our Police Department's commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and service," the statement said.
City Councilman Mike McDermott says the videos from 1999 show "the behavior of multiple Police Officers, including our current Chief of Police Jeff Jedrusik (who was then a Patrol Officer), that is dehumanizing and degrading towards other human beings."
"Behavior that is an abuse of power and unbecoming of anyone, at any level of law enforcement," McDermott said in a Facebook post.
The videos allegedly show him taunting multiple suspects, including telling one man he could sing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" instead of going to jail, according to a report from the Detroit News.
In another video he allegedly tells a man who appears to be intoxicated he wants him to "try to stand on your head or you're going to go to jail," according to the report. And when the man replied that he had suffered a closed-head injury and was unable to do that, the officer asks if he can spin on his head like he's break dancing.
"It was clear that this video showcases not only our current Police Chief, but other individuals of the Westland Police Department as well," McDermott said. "He was young and clearly showcasing bad judgment but was not alone in his actions. The tape shows that other, now retired Police Officers, were involved as well."
"If we expect our Police Chief to be the top law enforcement officer in our city, to uphold the oath to protect and serve others, to be the person expected to carry out disciplinary action when another person does wrong in the department, then he must have the credibility to do so. Unfortunately, I feel this situation has negatively impacted his ability to do so moving forward," he wrote.
The Michigan State Police have conducted an investigation of the case and turned it over to the Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's Office, but she declined to bring charges against Jedrusik, according to the Detroit News report.
