By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Shakeups continue in the city with the retirement of Police Chief Dean Tamsen and the announcement that his brother, City Administrator David Tamsen will vacate his position to become city attorney.
Dean Tamsen retired Tuesday, after 31 years with the police department. At a meeting that evening, City Council members approved appointing Lt. James Wilkewitz as interim police chief. He will serve in that position until police contracts are approved and a chief is named.
Also at the meeting, City Attorney Todd Flood announced that David Tamsen will vacate his position to become city attorney, a position Tamsen had held for 25 years previously, until Eric Waidelich took the job in 2007. He was reappointed to the position on a part-time basis upon Waidelich’s resignation in February.
Flood, an Allen Park native whose firm, Royal Oak-based Flood Lanctot Connor Stablein PLLC, was retained as city attorney in January, said he intends to donate the firm’s time to assist in the transition.
Flood had not been billing the city for his time, but Assistant City Attorney Chris Forsyth, another FLCS lawyer, had.
Flood said that Tamsen will take over the city attorney position as soon as a suitable replacement with a degree in public administration is found.
Flood also said he plans to work with the city “in perpetuity” and finish several projects, including a law student intern program he recently started to provide free assistance to the city with legal matters.
“I’m not leaving,” Flood said. “I promised to the council and mayor that I won’t leave, but I will save the costs.”