MELVINDALE, Mich. – In what was an at times tense meeting, the Melvindale City Council voted to hire a private investigator to investigate several issues within the city’s police department.
The decision comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed one week ago by Police Corporal Hassan Hammoud.
Hammoud is Muslim, and he and his family immigrated to the United States from Lebanon 30 years ago.
The suit alleges that he’s experienced racial discrimination, including derogatory comments and anti-Muslim items, such as crosses, left in his locker.
The suit also states that he has received no support from the administration.
In a statement, Hammoud’s attorneys were surprised to hear that the city has decided to start an investigation.
“The Council’s decision to bring in a private investigator is a welcome development, but it must be more than just optics and must result in palpable changes both within the department and in the way its officers protect and serve the community.
Cpl. Hammoud was discriminated – and retaliated – against because of his background and race, as well as for coming forward with serious misconduct regarding the department’s officers targeting people at the Melvindale city border as described in the lawsuit that was filed."
Alex Waldman, from the Marko Law Group
Additionally, during the meeting, the council discussed disturbing videos detailing police misconduct that would be sent to the city attorney.
However, they did not provide any details about what exactly was on those videos.
Prior to Wednesday’s (June 4) meeting, rumors were also swirling that police Chief Robert Kennaley, who has been Melvindale’s chief since March 2024 and is currently battling cancer, would be fired during this meeting.
Those rumors turned out to be unfounded, but members still came out and voiced their support for him.
“As a citizen, we’re a little bit worried because this is a little bit frustrating to the entire community,” Simon Saleh, a Melvindale business owner who has lived in the city for nearly 15 years, said.
Saleh said there has been a lot going on behind the scenes in city government, including other pending litigation, and that’s added to the level of frustration that residents feel.
“Overall, with the investigation. If there’s any wrongdoing, we have no problem with it, but the community overall. I know they do stand with the chief,” Saleh said.
Local 4 reached out to the office of Melvindale Mayor Nicole Shkira, as well as Chief Kennaley, about the vote, but has yet to hear a response.
