By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

HARPER WOODS — A June 23 ruling in Wayne County Circuit Court gave Harper Woods firefighters some vindication in their fight against the city.

A judge ruled that cross-training in the Police Department was against the city charter, ordering the practice to end with the city not being able to utilize the current crop of cross-trained officers for firefighter duties, according to a letter on the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union Web site from Sterling Heights Fire Lt. and MPFFU representative Mark Docherty.

The city had already cross-trained a number of police officers in the last several months, while its firefighters had resisted being trained as police officers. The firefighters union is opposed to any cross-training efforts, which led to their taking the city to court.

“This is a big win for the local, although the fight is not over,” Docherty stated. “We are not sure what the city will do next and there is a City Council election in the fall. Now is the time to hold certain people accountable for their irresponsible actions.”

Docherty is right that the fight is not over.

The city is looking to regroup and plan its next course of action.

“I will be meeting with the attorney next week to discuss options,” City Manager James Leidlein said.

One option could include an appeal of the court ruling; another is sending a city charter amendment to the people to vote on. The city currently must maintain a separate police and fire department.

However, the city argues that it planned to maintain two separate departments anyway, with a third crew that is cross-trained.

Council member John Szymanski — whose seat is one of four, including the mayor’s, up for election in the fall — said the city doesn’t plan to end the issue here.

“It’s not going to stop us,” he said. “The council’s committed to having more police officers any way we can get it.

“It’s one round out of a 12-round fight,” he said. “We’re focused and we’re going to stay right on course. We have the public on our side.”

Szymanski added that the city is dealing with cuts in state revenue sharing and dropping property values, which is why they’re trying to slash costs — something they have said departmental cross-training would aid in — where they see the opportunity to do so.