OAKLAND CITY — Embattled Oakland City policeman Michael
Collins was suspended Thursday without pay through August, on condition he
attend anger-management classes on his own and counseling with the chief who
wanted him fired.
Oakland City Board of Public Works and Safety members Bret
Kramer, Jerry Richardson and Hugh Wirth sat in silence for more than three
minutes when it came time for a motion, requested by town attorney Jason
Spindler, regarding Collins’ fate. Police Chief Alec Hensley had a front-row seat
at the firehouse.
“What happens if there is no motion on the floor?” asked
Collins’ attorney, Dale Krieg of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“I haven’t contemplated that,” Spindler replied. “I assume
there’s going to be a motion made by the board.”
“This is a serious matter so give us some time,” Wirth said.
More silence.
“Is there any discussion?” Spindler asked.
“I feel like some disciplinary action needs to be taken,”
Kramer offered.
“Some kind of anger-management and counseling, I’d recommend
that,” Wirth said.
Hensley then asked Krieg and Spindler to meet privately in
an outside room; the men exited to a back room, with Collins following, for a
discussion lasting roughly 10 minutes.
During the intermission, a former Oakland City mayor said he
was perplexed by the board’s inaction.
“They had all the information a week ago,” Gary Bise said of
the May 31 executive session at which the board heard evidence.
When the quartet came back into the room holding about 30
patrons — including several police officers who said they were there to support
Collins — Spindler said the chief had a recommendation concerning “everything
happening including the deadlock.”
“It’s obvious you all are not going to terminate him,” said
Hensley, standing to the right beside Collins and Krieg before the board. “But
as I’ve said more than once, even in the hearing we had, Collins is an
outstanding officer ...
“My recommendation is that he be suspended without pay until
Sept. 1, and complete anger-management classes. And I think he and I should
have counseling together, to have a better relationship,” the chief said.
After the board agreed to continue Collins’ health insurance
— Krieg said its loss would “bankrupt” Collins, an expectant father with no
income — it unanimously approved the chief’s recommendation. A sustained round
of applause followed.
Collins referred comment to his attorney, who said his
client was “satisfied.”
“I honestly don’t know what to say,” the chief said. But he
promised to make a good-faith effort to restore good relations with Collins.
“I would hope we can put this behind us,” Hensley said. “I
want it to work, and I’m going to do what I need to do on my part to make sure
it works.”
He concluded, “This was not an easy decision for anybody.
And to (Collins’) benefit, I’ve never denied that he’s a good officer. But he
has to make sure these underlying issues can be resolved.”
Before the meeting, one officer there to support Collins
said he and other law enforcers know one thing for sure: Collins aggressively
fights the war on drugs.
“He’s done an outstanding job, but especially, doing a
superb job on drug enforcement,” observed Kevin Cox, town marshal in
neighboring Francisco.
Krieg echoed that theme during opening statements to launch
the meeting.
“We all know the biggest problem facing our community right
now is the drug epidemic,” Krieg said. “Law enforcement has had some real
successes in this area and made all of our lives, especially the lives of our
children, safer ...
“Virtually every officer here can attest that nobody’s been
better in that fight than Mr. Collins ... The only ones who’ll be happy tonight
if you choose to dismiss Mr. Collins will be the pushers.”
Hensley declined to give an opening statement.
After the meeting, Kramer said that this was a difficult
decision for the board. “Collins does have a history,” he said. “He has been
suspended 11 times since 2007 on this department. I just don’t think that
termination was the right answer.”
Kramer said there is a personality conflict between Hensley
and Collins, and the board members plan on keeping their eyes on both of them.
“They both needed counseling together. I hate this
embarrassment for the city. This incident should have never happened. We will make
sure they get the counseling and that they work together without having any
more incidents,” said Kramer.
Richardson said Collins should be “very, very happy” with
the outcome.
“He has some serious baggage,” Richardson of the officer.
“He has been in trouble quite a few times for insubordination and disrespect.
Hopefully he will learn from this.”
Board members agreed that Collins is a good cop.
“There is no denying he is a good cop,” Kramer said. “He is
a go-getter and he has put a dent into drug activity in the city ...
“I appreciate what he has done for the city, but he needs to
learn how to have respect.”
As the crowd filed outside, Richardson and Kramer detailed
an April 20 incident that led to last week’s termination hearing.
Kramer explained that Collins was working on overtime when
he and Hensley went together to obtain a search warrant from the Gibson County
Prosecutor’s Office.
Kramer said that according to Hensley, Collins was tired and
got a little upset while obtaining the search warrant.
“Hensley could see that Collins was tired and getting
frustrated, so he told him he was taking him home, that he would not being
going with him to serve the search warrant,” said Kramer.
Collins allegedly cursed Hensley then told him he quit,
which Collins denies.
Hensley then started to radio Gibson County Dispatch to
advise them that Collins was going home when Collins physically grabbed the
radio from Hensley, Kramer said.
Hensley received medical attention for a broken finger
sustained during the altercation.
Also according to Kramer, when the chief took Collins home,
he asked for officer’s gun and badge. Collins reportedly removed his shoulder
harness, a holstering device containing his weapon, and threw it on the
floorboard. The chief reportedly chastized Collins for the move, claiming the
weapon could have discharged.
“I’m not really sure that he threw it down,” said Kramer,
noting the matter was disputed during the termination hearing.