Police Chief Ronald Beggs
By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — Residents spent their evening Jan. 18 showing support for Police Chief Ronald Beggs who recently announced his resignation effective Jan. 31, after serving just a little over one year in the position.
In his resignation letter to City Manager Douglas Drysdale, Beggs cited the city’s political environment. The city is discussing its options for filling the position on an interim basis, and there isn’t a timeline for a permanent replacement.
At the Jan. 18 City Council meeting, several residents spoke during public comment, praising Beggs’ work and accomplishments since he became chief Jan. 11, 2021. He was unanimously appointment by the council.
Former Councilman Bill Towle said he hopes Beggs withdraws his resignation.
“I think he’s got a lot of public support out there,” Towle said. “He’s done a good job. He’s got more to do, and the city is benefiting greatly by his employment here.”
Resident Nicole Clark said she implores council to reject Beggs’ resignation and show him the respect he has earned and could continue to earn.
“This isn’t about what you personally want,” she said, addressing the council and mayor. “You represent us. In the short time (Beggs) has been with us, he has become an integral part of this community.
“He was hired because he is extremely qualified for this position. For some reason, council seems to be fighting him on doing his job to the best of his ability, and appears to be bringing personal agendas to the table.
“Again, you represent us and many others. We don’t understand or agree with your personal agendas and would remind you of the positive changes he has made, and the trust and confidence the people of Riverview have in him.”
Another resident, Matt Dominski said Beggs does great in the city, and that Beggs brought something new when he was hired.
“The outreach of this city is beyond what I think any expectations were when you guys set out to hire somebody for a new police chief,” he said. “I know that you guys voted for him unanimously to come in as our police chief and I know the fact that — I don’t know what the inner workings are, the political turmoil he’s speaking of, but there has got to be some way we can work together to keep this guy here. He’s done a phenomenal job in our city.”
Beggs did not respond to or address the comments made, which is allowed during the other business portion of the city council meeting.
In a statement, Mayor Andrew Swift said the city has been very lucky to have Beggs for the last year.
“His dedication to community and public safety have made Riverview a better place to live,” Swift said. “He will be missed and I wish him all the best.”
Beggs said in his letter that it has been his honor to serve the city.
“It is truly one of Downriver’s best kept secrets,” he said. “Although my tenure was brief, I met many wonderful residents who truly make Riverview a great community.”
His departure comes following his inability to hire a deputy chief position within the department, which may have contributed to his decision, although Beggs did not mention or elaborate on the topic in his letter.
“I believe that the city’s current political environment is such that my resignation will be the best decision for the community and me,” Beggs wrote. “It has been clear from my earliest days as your chief there was and remains a strong opposition to an external candidate holding this office.”
Before coming to Riverview, Beggs worked 25 years in the Dearborn Police Department, retiring as a commander. At the time of his hire, Beggs taught budget and finance for police executives at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Fire Staff Command. He has previously lectured at University of Michigan-Dearborn’s criminal justice program for a few years.
Beggs did not mention retirement in his resignation letter.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments of the Riverview Police Department during 2021,” he wrote. “Lives were saved, critical equipment was obtained, and significant outreach was made to our community. I will work diligently to facilitate a smooth transition to whomever you choose to fill my position.”
During a Jan. 10, 2022, study session, the deputy chief discussion continued with questions being raised relating to the hiring process and promoting from within the department.
Discussions on the topic go back months, with City Councilmembers Chuck Norton and Sussie O’Neil asking questions during a council meeting on the hiring of a deputy chief from outside the department instead of within.
Typically, the city manager makes the decisions for hiring and firing city employees, Towle said. One candidate — not from the department — was interviewed for the position but has not been hired.
Drysdale said at a Sept. 7, 2021, council meeting that Beggs was evaluating staffing in the Police Department and it was Beggs’ recommendation to bring in and have someone as a deputy chief instead of an administrative lieutenant.
At the study session, O’Neil and Norton each read statements regarding the deputy chief position.
O’Neil said she continues to feel that an outside, high salary job does not need to be filled when Riverview has the least amount of police officers it has ever had.
“The position being filled was done against policy and it was being filled by one of Chief Beggs’ friends,” she said. “So, the hiring stopped because one person has that much power or maybe because the process was done wrong.
“I know many of you have stated that Chief Beggs has been very active in the community and very visible, that’s very important to a small community and I appreciate that, but I think you helped prove my point. He has time to be in the community and be a part of the community relationship, he does not need someone to help him with the daily operations inside the police department.”
Norton said that as for the topic of hiring a deputy chief, ultimately those decisions fall on the responsibility of the city manager and the police chief.
His statement also mentioned the recent retirement of a Riverview lieutenant.
“Beggs turned his resignation in less than 24 hours after city council received a letter from a recently retired lieutenant who had 26 years of service to our city,” he said. “This letter consisted of six pages of facts and opinions of why he decided he could no longer work within a department that had changed so drastically with a new chief in charge.”
During the study session, Swift began his comments reading a section from the city charter on the relationship of council to administrative service.
To watch the city council meetings go to www.cityofriverview.viebit.com.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)