Decatur officer suspended, investigated

DECATUR, Mich. (WOOD) - A part-time officer is on unpaid suspension from the Decatur Police Department and a criminal investigation into his work is ongoing.

24 Hour News 8 was told Officer Jim Richardson was placed on suspension June 5 for violating a department policy.  

But a criminal investigation is also underway. Michigan State Police confirmed that the investigation has to do Richardson's salvage vehicle inspections.

Those inspections must be conducted by someone connected with a police department and the payments from them are supposed to go back to the department. Michigan State Police confirmed its investigation has to do with that money and whether it reached its intended destination.

The case has been turned over to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's office for review.

Richardson has worked for Decatur PD for about 7 years. Before that, he retired as a Michigan State Police trooper, having worked on that force for 15 years.

Decatur Village Manager Matthew Rizzo couldn't speak about the investigation, but said removing Richardson from the patrol schedule forced the department to shift staff for a while, making some part-time employees full-time in order to cover shifts.