Nearly two years ago, Detroit Police Officer Johnny Strickland is accused of filing a false insurance claim for the theft of his motorcycle.
Although he was never charged criminally — MLive is awaiting response from Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper as to why — the Detroit Police Department Internal Affairs Division brought the accusation to a internal disciplinary trial board that recommended a 20-day suspension.
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Strickland is appealing the punishment.
Officer Strickland received a call from his girlfriend on May 10, 2011 advising him that his motorcycle — or one similar to it — was seen on M5 on the back of a flatbed.
“He said, ‘No, it’s not missing; don’t worry about it,'” according to reports Chief Investigator Pamela Davis Drake presented to the Detroit Police Commission last week.
She said Strickland, according to witnesses, called the management office for his apartment complex on May 11 and confirmed his motorcycle hadn’t been towed.
“Two hours later from that, he goes and purchases insurance on this motorcycle,” said Detroit Police Commander John Serba. He also filed a police report with the Rochester Hills Police Department.
An insurance theft claim was filed at 8 a.m. May 12. The Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force later recovered the motorcycle.
“He ran out and got insurance and then the next day reported it stolen,” Drake said. “I won’t go in detail about the specifics of Officer Strickland’s disciplinary history but there have been five issues… before this.
“I believe that taken together with the seriousness of the actions in this case support the 20-day suspension.”
Strickland’s attorney, John Goldpaugh, said the claim and report Strickland made to the Farmington Hills Police Department were accurate.
The motorcycle was stolen, and in fact, was later recovered, Goldpaugh said.
“Because he didn’t set up the theft as if it were a phony theft doesn’t mean that it’s not fraud,” Drake argued. “It was assigned to the fraud division because the insurance was obtained so close in proximity to the filing of a claim.”
The Farmington Hills Police Department requested a criminal warrant against Strickland but it was denied by Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper for lack of evidence Aug. 18, 2011, according to Serba.
The Detroit Police Commission did not rule on Strickland’s suspension appeal at last week’s meeting.
Commission President Jerome Warfield said the petition presented to the commission had mistakes. He requested it be corrected and returned to the Police Commission for a determination this week.
