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Detroit police board votes to let suspended officer keep pay while charged with assault

Posted at 5:56 PM, Dec 12, 2018
and last updated 2019-03-15 15:27:28-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit's Board of Police Commissioners has voted against Chief James Craig's recommendation to change Corporal Dewayne Jones's suspension from one with pay to a suspension without pay.

The chief made the recommendation not long after Jones was charged with felony misconduct in office and misdemeanor assault and battery for an alleged assault at Detroit Receiving Hospital on a woman with mental health issues.

"It is alleged that she was spitting, shouting profanities at the staff, and bit a police officer on the forearm and thigh. It is alleged that when Jones attempted to restrain her, he punched her in the face and upper body," according to a statement from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Due to the absence of two commissioners Thursday, it only took four votes to leave Jones' pay alone as his criminal case works its way through the justice system.

The 18-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department has been described by fellow officers as the "poster child" of a good police officer.

And at Thursday's hearing, a number of officers showed up and spoke out in support of Corporal Jones, telling commissioners that Jones is a excellent officer with good moral judgment.

"In my opinion, he lost it," said Commissioner Willie Bell, who retired from DPD with over 30 years on the job and was disappointed in the board's vote.

A spokesperson for Detroit police said the chief was not available for comment.

Click on the video to hear from Commissioner Bell and the officers who spoke out in support of Corporal Jones.