Tactical Methods Unlimited, #Detroit #Flint #Water #Outlaws

Re-post:

Fact: Tactical Methods Unlimited, Is a consulting firm that trains American Cops in the paramilitary tactics of Israel

 facts behind the #Detroit & #Flint Water War against the poor

The head of security and integrity for the #Detroit Water and Sewerage Department -- who the Free Press revealed in January was working a second full-time job -- now supervises a longtime friend and business associate hired into a newly created position, documents obtained by the Free Press show.

That relationship and the rising administrative costs in the department's security force are raising questions weeks after Barnett Jones came under fire for working two full-time jobs 70 miles apart.

Jones was the public safety director in Flint and head of security for the Detroit water department at the same time, but he resigned from the Flint job when the Free Press inquired how he could work in both places.

Now, documents obtained by the Free Press show:

• Dale Romeo was hired in October for a new position that pays him $65,000 a year to train security guards. An online résumé for Romeo said he worked for Tactical Methods Unlimited, a consulting firm owned by Jones.

• When Jones was hired last May at $138,750 a year, his salary was $58,878 more than that of his predecessor -- despite the fact that the water department was cutting jobs to save money.

• When Jones was asked under oath in a September arbitration hearing whether he was working, he noted his job in Flint but never mentioned his water department job.

Water department officials have defended Jones and publicly supported him after he resigned from the Flint job. Spokeswoman Mary Alfonso said Jones didn't help Romeo land the job.

"Hiring is done by our human resources department," she said. "Mr. Jones removed himself entirely from that decision-making process. He was approved by unanimous consent of the panel that interviewed him."

But the union that represents the department's security guards took issue with the hire.

"It's straight-up cronyism," said Michael Mulholland, vice president of AFSCME Local 207, which represents more than 900 water department workers, including the security guards. "Why do we need a $65,000-a-year position to train property guards who don't even carry guns?"

The water department's security force has a budget of $2.1 million and includes 90 security guard positions, though union officials say only 73 are filled. Most guards, who aren't armed and aren't certified police officers, make $13-$15 an hour.

Records show Jones' salary is well above that of interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan, who makes $110,000 to run a $340-million department with almost 3,000 employees. When Jones was hired, he replaced former Chief Administrator of Security Roger Willis, who left in January 2012 and earned $79,872 annually.

In January, Jones stepped down from a $135,000-a-year job overseeing public safety in Flint. Officials there said they weren't aware of his work for the Detroit water department until the Free Press inquired.

Jones was asked about his employment while under oath in September during an arbitration hearing involving an Ann Arbor police officer who claimed she was wrongly fired by Jones before he retired as head of police and fire services.

"I'm a consultant for the emergency financial manager in the city of Flint, trying to save the police department, the fire department and the city from bankruptcy," Jones testified, according to a hearing transcript obtained by the Free Press. Jones also said he served as an outreach minister for his church in Auburn Hills but never mentioned his work for the water department, which began in May.

Jones did not return a message from the Free Press seeking comment. Neither did the two lawyers who questioned him.

Alfonso said she didn't think the answer created a credibility problem for Jones, who job title is chief of security and integrity. She said she wouldn't speculate on why he didn't mention his work at the water department.

"I think what he was trying to do is establish his credibility as a law enforcement officer, which is why he mentioned his work in Flint," she said.

Department Director Sue McCormick previously told the Free Press that Jones had been working hard, patrolling the city on Angels' Night and visiting guards working the midnight shift in Port Huron.

"I've seen no lack of his on-duty performance to the job," McCormick said at the time.

In addition to working two full-time jobs at once, Jones is listed in records as the owner of Tactical Methods Unlimited, a consulting firm.

Romeo's online résumé said he also worked there. But after the Free Press asked about his work history, he updated that résumé to say his work for Jones' consulting firm ended in 2011 and was "voluntary/unpaid."

The paper résumé Romeo submitted to the department when he applied showed he worked for 25 years as a sheriff's deputy in Oakland County, rising to sergeant before retiring in 2006. From 2009 through last fall, that résumé listed him as a self-employed consultant and training administrator but didn't mention his work with Tactical Methods Unlimited.

Alfonso said it's unclear whether Romeo mentioned the Jones connection during the interviewing process, but said he might have omitted it to avoid appearing to draw favor.

Reached at home last month, Romeo refused to discuss his employment. "I've got some things to do. I'm not going to be available," Romeo said before hanging up.Alfonso defended Romeo's hiring, saying the department is undergoing a court-supervised restructuring.

"Part of the judge's order allowed us to do some changes to get some highly qualified people," Alfonso said. "We were under civil service titles. If you wanted a qualified person, the salary level was set. He's a highly qualified individual."

Mulholland said guards didn't receive their first round of training until early February. He questioned what Romeo was doing for the department prior to that.

Alfonso said Romeo has been busy designing a training program for this year and next and has conducted several internal investigations.

Meanwhile, the department's security operation was cited in a reorganization report issued last year by consultant EMA of Minneapolis as a possible service to outsource to a private company.

EMA's controversial $48-million, four-year restructuring plan proposed eliminating 81% of the agency's work force. The department has been under the gun to eliminate bloated bureaucracy that suburban leaders blame for the doubling of water rates over the last decade.

"Why do we need a $65,000-a-year trainer for a department they want to outsource?" Mulholland said.

Alfonso said the EMA report includes many recommendations, not all of which will be adopted.