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Posted on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.

Former Garden City deputy chief expected to be appointed as interim Saline police chief Monday night

By Lisa Allmendinger

The Saline City Council is expected to appoint Mike Lindman, a retired deputy chief from the Garden City Police Department, as its interim police chief Monday night following the announced retirement of longtime Chief Paul Bunten.

Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell and City Manager Todd Campbell interviewed three candidates for the position and agreed on Lindman. He's been retired for more than five years, according to a memo to the City Council from Campbell, and will not be able to carry a gun because his state law enforcement certification through Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) has expired.

In addition, because he is not certified, he cannot enforce laws or announce himself as a police officer, the memo states.

However, Campbell’s memo states, a chief of police does not need to be certified according to MCOLES’ regulations.

Lindman is expected to begin duties on Jan. 3 and work 40 hours a week at an annual salary of $80,289, although he's only expected to work for the city for about six months until the city hires a new permanent police chief.

He will be given a dedicated vehicle from the city’s fleet to drive during regular hours, which he will not be able to take home.

Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.

Comments

Mike

Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.

Not a bad deal. A pension and an $80,000 job. This goes on all of the time.........

Diane

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.

WHAT !!!!! Can't make an arrest, not certified ???? What kind of a POLICE chief is that? You are just looking for trouble.

Frustrated in A2

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.

The city of Grand Rapids (the 2nd largest police department in the state) had a police chief who was not a certified officer for years. He came from the business sector and was hired because of his management skills. In the average department that has several full time officers and 24 hour road coverage (e.g. Saline) the chief is not out arresting people or enforcing laws. Those 6 months will fly by in no time and a new chief will be in place. I personally don't see the problem because there probably aren't many folks who are going to take a full time job knowing its going to last no more than 6 months.

PLGreen

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.

This should be good for moral at the Saline PD. I would think that someone internal to the PD has better credentials. Bad choice.

RJA

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.

Yikes! I can see where Saline Police really have their work cut out for them. Police Chief no longer certified? (and making this kind of money) I don't get it!

Go Blue

Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.

Huh? Temporary or not, police chief that cannot enforce the law, cannot carry a gun, in other words really does not fit the job description fully but hey, lets pay him $80,000 and more, give him a car and call it a good decision. And already retired so will now be double dipping, getting retirement and a nice big, fat paycheck as well. Were do we sign up for such a free ride? How about giving the position to someone that actually is getting no additional income and more completely fills the job description? Gee wouldn't that be something?