BADGE of HONOR
Blowing the Whistle
The True Story of a Mayor’s Bodyguard
Walter L. Harris, Jr.
Wasteland Press
www.wastelandpresss.net
Shelbyville, KY USA
Badge of Honor: Blowing the Whistle
The True Story of a Mayor’s Bodyguard
by Walter L. Harris, Jr.
Copyright © 2011 Walter L. Harris, Jr.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
First Printing – April 2011
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-60047-560-3
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-60047-561-0
The following is a true story based on and inspired by true events. Certain names and places have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned. However, the main characters of this story have appeared in local, state, and national news; thus they are subject to public disclosure. WLHJr.
NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM, BY PHOTOCOPYING OR BY ANY ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL MEANS, INCLUDING INFORMATION STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS, WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER/AUTHOR
Printed in the U.S.A.
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To my sons and daughter, may they remember the integrity of their father and the sacrifices he made in order to stand up for justice. That they may walk through life with honor, dignity, integrity, and faith in God.
To the men and women in blue, may you always honor your badge and boldly stand for justice without fearing the consequences.
Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges all advocates for truth who are still fighting and who will continue to fight for truth and justice. I would like to thank my wonderful, God-fearing mother who taught me always to do the right thing in any given situation. I am especially thankful to my soul mate and loving wife of 21 years, who supported me throughout the whistleblower ordeal and the writing of this book. In addition, I am grateful to my attorney, Michael Stefani, for his vigorous fight against the injustice I faced. I am equally grateful to my editor, Susan Giffin, an award-winning author and editor. After interviewing various editors, I knew she was the one whom I could trust to help me tell my story. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank my Detroit pastor who provided me guidance at the onset of the whistleblower ordeal.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
PART 1 – Character & Duty
Chapter 1 – Developing Character
Chapter 2 – Becoming a Police Officer
Chapter 3 – Becoming a Bodyguard
PART 2 – The New Mayor
Chapter 4 – Right Here, Right Now
Chapter 5 – Cronyism
Chapter 6 – Vindictiveness
Chapter 7 – Mistress
Chapter 8 – Philandering
PART 3 – The Whistleblower Ordeal
Chapter 9 – Time to Leave
Chapter 10 – Whistleblowers Exposed
Chapter 11 – Retaliation Begins
Chapter 12 – Harassment, Intimidation & Threats
Chapter 13 – Relocation for Safety
Chapter 14 – Whistleblower Cases
PART 4 – The Aftermath
Chapter 15 – The Jury Verdict & Settlement
Chapter 16 – The “Final” Chapter
Chapter 17 – To Blow the Whistle or Not
2001 Detroit Police Department Executive Protection Unit:
Harris (far right) is pictured with officers of his assigned crew,
along with former Mayor W. Dennis Archer and his wife, Trudy.
Foreword
I was in my second term as mayor of the City of Detroit when Detroit Police Officer Walter L. Harris, Jr. walked into my office for an interview to join the Executive Protection Unit (EPU). The sergeant in charge of the unit had already completed a thorough background check of Officer Harris.
During my first term, the EPU earned tremendous respect from the FBI and the Secret Service, as well as the Michigan State Police, county and local city police departments, for the way they conducted themselves in providing security for me and my family. They also demonstrated professional excellence in working with the other law enforcement agencies when President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, members of President Clinton’s cabinet, the governor of Michigan or other dignitaries would visit Detroit. The Secret Service and the FBI provided training to the EPU because of the number of visits President Clinton’s administration made to Detroit.
But there was more. Whenever I left Detroit on city business and met with other mayors who had police officer protection, Detroit’s EPU seemed to stand out with class. There developed by and between the various city police departments a mutual respect for the manner in which the Detroit EPU conducted themselves.
There was an enormous amount of hard earned pride that developed after the EPU was the first organized under my administration on January 1, 1994. Therefore, as time passed by the sergeant in charge of the EPU was meticulous in the background check. It was absolutely imperative that a new officer assigned to the unit have a great track record within the police department, have an impeccable reputation for high integrity and high moral character, and could run at least 1½ miles at a reasonably fast pace of a seven minute mile.
Following my interview with Detroit Police Officer Walter L. Harris, Jr., I invited him to join the EPU. During Officer Harris’ service until I left office at midnight, December 31, 2001, he was conscientious, principled, hard working, reliable, thorough, timely, a team player with his fellow officers and took great care of me and my family. He always demonstrated outstanding integrity and character during his service on my Executive Protection Unit.
Dennis W. Archer
Former Mayor of the City of Detroit
(1994-2001)
Chairman & CEO, Dennis W. Archer PLLC
Chair, Infilaw National Policy Board
Past President, American Bar Association
Chairman Emeritus, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Introduction
“For it is not easy to do the correct thing
when the people around you are
prospering from doing the wrong thing.”
Walter L. Harris, Jr.
During my career with the Detroit Police Department, I worked with many honorable police officers in precincts and in an assortment of specialized units. Unfortunately, my last year in the department was whittled by a seemingly insurmountable onslaught of dishonorable activities by officers in my unit. While assigned to the Detroit Police Executive Protection Unit (EPU) under Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, I witnessed corruption and immoral activities. When I became a police officer, I promised myself that I would never dishonor my badge or compromise my integrity. Yet, I was soon expected to participate in various forms of corruption and immoral acts while on duty. Within 16 months of accepting my position in EPU with Mayor Kilpatrick, I voluntarily transferred out of what some would consider a prestigious unit. I needed to maintain my honor and avoid being implicated in the improper activities that were occurring regularly within this unit.
Since leaving Detroit, I have learned of the plight of two Detroit police officers who succumbed to the temptations of corruption. One dishonored his badge by receiving income from criminal activities and was sentenced to prison for tax evasion. The second officer dishonored his badge and was sent to federal prison for receiving a bribe in order to help facilitate the sale of city-owned property. In each case, these officers made decisions under the cover of the badge that they will regret for the rest of their lives. I look back on my situation and how I avoided the temptations of corruption. In any given situation, I believe that one should ask if it is the right or wrong thing to do. I trust that I did the right thing.
I have grappled over publishing my story, because I didn’t want it to be perceived as a bash Kwame Kilpatrick book. Nevertheless, there are several reasons why I have decided to share my experiences and put them into print. First, the opportunity to tell my story will give the reader some insight as to how I became involved in this whistleblower scandal. It will provide the details of what happened to me after I gave my truthful statement to the Michigan State Police who were investigating allegations of criminal activity by the mayor of Detroit and members of his staff.
Secondly, I hope that sharing my experiences will give other law enforcement officersand possibly those in the private sectorinsight into what happens when someone blows the whistle. My story will give the reader illustrations of the types of harassment and intimidation that ensued in my case and could follow anyone who blows the whistle. I hope that it will inspire them to recognize that, in the end, it is worth telling the truth and maintaining honor. Finally, I trust when you read this book, it will help you to examine your life values and to reinforce your integrity within the workplace.
PART 1
Character & Duty
Chapter 1
Developing Character
While growing up on the northwest side of Detroit, I observed many boys and young men in my neighborhood exploiting drugs and committing crimes regularly. I recall a time during my middle school years when gang recruitment took place in my district. The gangs would assemble and commit robberies and home invasions to steal cash or goods they could trade for drugs.
My eyes were really opened one day when I observed a neighborhood boy walking with crutches. I stopped him on the street and asked what happened to his leg. “I broke into a house and while trying to escape the owner, he shot me in the butt,” he explained. That really left a disturbing effect on me for many years.
I established a refuge in recreational sports and athletics. I was able to avoid the pressures of the street gangs by participating in after-school activities at the local community recreational center. I tried boxing, but my mother didn’t approve of the sport so I turned to swimming. I spent my summers participating in swimming programs at Redford High School which I later attended.
In addition to continuing with athletics, I started weight training at the recreational center to keep busy and stay off the radar of the neighborhood delinquents. I soon began to notice the absence of most of the delinquents and later learned that they had been locked up in juvenile detention. As the end of the middle school years approached, I was ready for high school. I looked forward to attending Redford. Once there, I joined the junior varsity team and was playing football by my sophomore year.
The head coach, Robert Jones, was a man of great integrity, as was his assistant coach, Roy Walter. Both not only taught us the game of football but also the game of life. Coach Jones always used life analogies while he taught the game. After every practice, we were lectured on what it takes to be a man. It was pointed out daily that the decisions we make each day would affect us for the rest of our lives. The coaches preached that we must make good, sound decisions in everything we do. We learned about discipline, responsibility, respect, and honoring our word.
The coaches emphasized three important things: education, education, and education. They sold us the American dream as they talked about our going to college, graduating, and then being able to provide for a family. They promised that if we were to: (1) go to school every day and do well in class, (2) conduct ourselves as men and treat everyone with respect, (3) come to practice during the season and off season, (4) stay off of the streets (criminal activity), we would receive a college scholarship. The coaches explained how scouts from universities would visit the school and attend games to observe us. I believed the coaches, and I bought into the American dream. In time, it all came into fruition.