Injustice in the Upper Peninsula
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Shame on you!
Former police chief fired
for "voluntary misconduct and noncompliance,"
attorney for Burton says in court document
by RoNeisha Mullen | The Flint Journal
Wednesday March 05, 2008, 6:50 PM
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Police Blotter
FLINT - Former Flint officer to spend 60 days in jail
A Flint police inspector charged with misconduct was sentenced Tuesday to 60 days in jail and will have to pay fines and costs of $800.
Visiting Judge Karl E. Kraus sentenced Ralph Tedford III, 41, of Flint in Flint District Court, telling Tedford people trust the police to protect the public and that the sentence reflected "a diminishment of trust."
Tedford, a police officer for 18 years, has been off-duty since last year when a woman said he took her to the King Avenue mini station for sex after a traffic stop.
He resigned last week and gave up his police certification.
Under questioning by assistant Genesee County prosecutor Rebecca Jurva, Tedford admitted to having sex with the woman in the station.
The victim cried as she told Kraus she doesn't trust police anymore, she's not the same person she was and it has affected her children, according to court officials.
Tedford's attorney, Marvin Jennings, told the judge Tedford was a good police officer and that he made a bad choice.
Tedford will begin his jail sentence March 15. Arrangements are being made for him to serve his jail sentence outside of Genesee County.
- Paul Janczewski
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Flint police inspector agrees to resign
by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal
Monday March 03, 2008, 8:00 PM
FLINT, MICHIGAN -- A Flint police inspector charged with misconduct has agreed to resign immediately.
Ralph Tedford III, 41, of Flint also will ask the state to permanently rescind his police certification, said Genesee County Prosecutor David S. Leyton.
In exchange, prosecutors will dismiss a felony misconduct charge against Tedford and allow him to plead guilty to misdemeanor willful neglect of duty.
Tedford, one of Mayor Don Williamson's handpicked members of the Citizens Service Bureau, has been off duty since last year when a woman alleged he took her to the King Avenue mini station for sex after a traffic stop. Tedford has been with the department for 18 years.
The plea agreement allows Tedford to avoid the possibility of a five-year prison term. Instead, he will face a maximum of a year behind bars.
He was expected to plead guilty to the reduced charge in Flint District Court Tuesday morning.
By asking the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to permanently revoke his certification, Tedford would not be able to work as a police officer again.
"This is a sad ending for a police officer who by many accounts had a fine career," said Leyton.
Leyton said the alleged victim in the case was consulted about the plea and agreed it was a fair resolution.
The Journal could not reach Tedford's attorney or acting Flint police Chief Gary S. Hagler for comment Monday.
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Granholm could remove mayor
