Charlie LeDuff on the case of Detroit's interim fire commissioner. When will they learn?

Previous coverage of Charlie LeDuff and the Detroit Fire Department (click & scroll down)

Come see me at FDIC on March 24 in rooms 125-126 at 1:30 PM on how to handle the bad news & other media issues

Firegeezer also has some views on this topic

As regular readers know, I have written quite a few words about WJBK-TV’s Charlie LeDuff’s advocacy reporting on the Detroit Fire Department. I even gave some unsolicited advice on ways to start getting the image issues under control as new leadership apparently works to solve the many, many problems in this department (click here). I guess those in charge don’t read STATter911.com and haven’t learned anything on their own from LeDuff’s previous reports. So we are left with this latest embarrassment for the department and the city.

Did Interim Fire Commissioner Fred Wheeler really think that the issue of where he lives would escape the scrutiny of this intrepid reporter? Apparently, yes.

After LeDuff’s previous reporting resulted in the firing of Wheeler’s predecessor and his deputy for an alleged cover-up that LeDuff reported went all the way to the commissioner’s office, shouldn’t that have sent a message about ethics? Apparently, no.

Is not talking to and avoiding reporter LeDuff about this latest issue going to make LeDuff and this problem go away for Commissioner Wheeler ? If history is any guide, I don’t think so.

LeDuff has video that seems to indicate Wheeler lives in a townhouse in Ann Arbor and commutes in a city issued Crown Vic when he and other appointed city officials are supposed to live in Detroit. But the reporter has much more than that. LeDuff has Wheeler’s signed Oath of Office indicating he lives in Detroit along with voting and motor vehicle records saying otherwise. If that isn’t enough, he has an on camera interview with the person who says she who typed Wheeler’s Oath of Office form. From WJBK-TV’s website:

“I noticed manupilation,” said Val Jopes.

Jopes, the executive assistant to the past six fire commissioners, typed up that oath for Commissioner Wheeler.

“I typed it on the typewriter in my office, yes,” she said.

We asked Jopes where Wheeler lives.

“He lives in Ann Arbor,” she responded.

We then asked Jopes whether Wheeler lied on his oath.

“He does that with a nice smile,” she replied.

You may recall that Mayor Dave Bing said the final straw for the previous commissioner was that the mayor had to find out from a reporter about a stolen wallet from a citizen’s home and attempts to cover it up. Let’s hope that Commissioner Wheeler at least learned that lesson and informed Mayor Bing of the residency issue before LeDuff discovered it.

But as LeDuff reports, that may not be enough to save the commish. The issue of getting city workers, including police officers, to live in Detroit is something the mayor has made a priority. It really doesn’t look good when one of the bosses isn’t with the program and isn’t providing any explanation as to why that’s the case. So, another lesson, besides keeping the boss informed, is not to do anything that very publicly conflicts with the agenda set by your boss.