By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE — A Public Safety Commission member has resigned from his position in the wake of a state police investigation stemming from allegations that he solicited a prostitute.
A .45-caliber pistol registered to Jerry King, 70, was found in a homemade hidden compartment of a purse belonging to Detroit resident Kelli Dawn Maczala, 46, after Melvindale police arrested her in the 17400 block of Dix on Oct. 27 after she offered an undercover officer money for sex.
King, a commission member for more than three years, submitted his resignation letter dated Nov. 5 Wednesday afternoon, said Mayor Valerie Cadez, who requested the resignation.
“Jerry has done a really good job for the Safety Commission,” she said. “There was no reason to question his ability to do his job in the past. This came up and we reacted as we thought we needed to.”
King had not reported the gun as stolen, but attempted to do so while leaving an interview with police regarding the matter on the day of Maczala’s arrest.
“Just as police are held to a higher standard, being a safety commissioner, he should have realized that he needed to notify us (if the gun were stolen) immediately,” Melvindale Police Chief Rick Cadez said. “Our cars could have known this lady was in possession of a gun and acted accordingly if they came upon her.”
The relationship between King and Maczala is unknown, but King told police Maczala had been at his house the night before she was arrested.
“I can’t say what his relationship was to her,” he said. “I can’t say whether he knew she was a hooker or not.”
Officials forwarded the information to the Michigan State Police, who have began an investigation into King’s conduct and will make recommendations on possible charges.
(Contact Andrea Poteet at [email protected])