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Melvindale Police Chief Chad Hayse fired from job amid allegations of toxic workplace

Posted at 8:10 PM, Aug 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-30 23:23:42-04

Suspended Melvindale police chief Chad Hayse's fight to keep his job has failed. City council voted to terminate his employment Tuesday night.

The reasons for Hayse's suspension have been kept under wraps until a meeting Monday night.

Hayse faced several counts - accused of creating a toxic work environment. He's also accused of instituting a policy requiring officers to record the gender, age, and race of parking violators before they are towed.

The policy, which city officials described as discriminatory, was aimed at hindering a towing company's hired by the city - Goch & Sons.

Hayse said, "I'm not going to make that  Goch anymore money!," according to one of the counts read into the record during the hearing.

Hayse was allowed to face his accusers and question them, including those under his command.

Sgt. Patrick Easton told the council on Monday that Hayse threw tantrums when he didn't get his way and referred to Mayor Stacy Striz as "an ," behind her back.

"It was more than a hostile work environment," Easton said.

Hayse denies accusations that he abused his employees. He said recording demographic information of drivers who were towed was aimed at preventing predatory towing.