By JOE SWICKARD • Free Press Staff Writer • August 1, 2009
Ousted Detroit police monitor Sheryl Robinson Wood has hired a former prosecutor as questions swirl around her relationship with ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, her oversight of lagging police reforms and six-figure monthly fees.
Wood, who was removed a week ago when the FBI uncovered text messages indicating undisclosed meetings and communications with Kilpatrick, chose Vincent Cohen Jr., who said Wood looks forward to quickly clearing her name.
Authorities are weighing investigations of Wood's tenure and the slow pace of reforms.
"Ms. Robinson Wood is an exemplary lawyer who conscientiously fulfilled all of her duties as the monitor of the Detroit Police Department," he said in a statement today. "Any allegations to the contrary are misguided."
Cohen is partner specializing in white collar criminal defense with the Washington, D.C.-based Schertler & Onorato, a law office that defines itself as "a premier boutique litigation firm."
Like Wood, Cohen is a former federal prosecutor. And like Mayor Dave Bing, he is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Wood was named monitor in 2003 to oversee court-ordered reforms of the Detroit Police Department. The ordered reforms came after the Free Press revealed in 2000 that police had an extraordinarily high rate of fatal shootings and that the follow-up investigations where often cursory and skewed in favor of the officers. The newspaper also found questionable homicide investigation practices, illegal detention of witnesses and mass dragnet arrests.
After six years and more than $10 million, less than 40% of the reforms are in place. Long-promised in-car video cameras and a computer system to track officers' performance are still not operational.
Edited by Andrea K. Farmer.
Ousted Detroit police monitor Sheryl Robinson Wood has hired a former prosecutor as questions swirl around her relationship with ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, her oversight of lagging police reforms and six-figure monthly fees.
Wood, who was removed a week ago when the FBI uncovered text messages indicating undisclosed meetings and communications with Kilpatrick, chose Vincent Cohen Jr., who said Wood looks forward to quickly clearing her name.
Authorities are weighing investigations of Wood's tenure and the slow pace of reforms.
"Ms. Robinson Wood is an exemplary lawyer who conscientiously fulfilled all of her duties as the monitor of the Detroit Police Department," he said in a statement today. "Any allegations to the contrary are misguided."
Cohen is partner specializing in white collar criminal defense with the Washington, D.C.-based Schertler & Onorato, a law office that defines itself as "a premier boutique litigation firm."
Like Wood, Cohen is a former federal prosecutor. And like Mayor Dave Bing, he is a graduate of Syracuse University.
Wood was named monitor in 2003 to oversee court-ordered reforms of the Detroit Police Department. The ordered reforms came after the Free Press revealed in 2000 that police had an extraordinarily high rate of fatal shootings and that the follow-up investigations where often cursory and skewed in favor of the officers. The newspaper also found questionable homicide investigation practices, illegal detention of witnesses and mass dragnet arrests.
After six years and more than $10 million, less than 40% of the reforms are in place. Long-promised in-car video cameras and a computer system to track officers' performance are still not operational.
Edited by Andrea K. Farmer.
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