The City of Battle Creek has placed its police Deputy Chief and Police Inspector on “paid administrative leave” while it investigates their conduct, officials announced Friday.
In a press conference at City Hall that lasted under five minutes, Interim City Manager Susan Bedsole read from a statement, saying the inquiry is the result of “an alleged personal relationship that may have created a hostile work environment, thereby having a negative impact on the department and its personnel. Certain job performance issues are also included.”
Interim police chief Jim Blocker also spoke, saying the issue was “narrow in scope.” He says it’s important for the department to follow-up on the allegations to “re-establish trust within the organization and, more importantly, within our community.”
Bedsole says the investigation would be carried out by the city human resources department, and did not involve allegations of a crime. She adds the city hopes to reach a conclusion within a few weeks.
Bedsole and Blocker declined to answer questions following the conference, and did not name the individuals concerned.
The Battle Creek Police Department websitelists JimSayloras the deputy police chiefbut does not include an obvious entry for police inspector. An individual who answered the phone at the police department would not give the deputy police chief or the inspector’s name, referring the reporter to the city manager’s office.
The person who answered the phone there also would not name the individuals involved, but offered to give the message to the city manager, who did not return the call by deadline.
