An ex-Detroit police officer who served in the executive protection unit for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is suing his ex-boss and the city in a whistle-blower’s lawsuit.
Tony Davis took the witness stand Tuesday in circuit court and said that he felt he was demoted, threatened and eventually fired for reporting wrongdoing within Kilpatrick’s inner circle and for speaking out about a rumored Manoogian Mansion party.
Ex-Kilpatrick Officer Testifies About Rumored Party
Davis said he was called to the mayoral residence the day after the alleged 2003 party to investigate and found circumstantial evidence of a party.
“I seen the grass. People drove cars all over the grass. I seen unmarked police officers …I seen garbage bags in the back yard,” said Davis Tuesday.
It’s alleged that exotic dancer Tamara Greene, was assaulted at the party by Kilpatrick’s wife, Carlita. A few months later, she was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Davis said he was ordered not to talk about the party to anyone — no matter what.
But in 2008, years after the alleged incident, Davis was questioned by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
He told prosecutors that he had direct orders to drive to several police precincts near the mansion and meet then-Police Chief Jerry Oliver to pick up documents that were to be shredded. Davis said he believes the shredded documents were run sheets that would have shown which law enforcement agencies responded to a reported fight between Greene and Carlita Kilpatrick.
Davis also filed court documents saying on the first day of Kilpatrick’s term, he witnessed his boss on the executive protection unit arrange what he believed to be an extra-marital affair by the mayor at a local hotel.
“When they came back up on the elevator, they took the mayor right into the room with the two females,” said Davis in court filings.
He tells Local 4 he believes the women were prostitutes, brought to the same hotel Kilpatrick’s family was staying at that night, to celebrate the election win.
Davis said he was targeted by the executive unit, which was run by Kilpatrick’s close friends Mike Martin and Lorenzo Greg Jones, and afterward, experienced a series of demotions.
He said in court Tuesday that in the fall of 2002, after another wild party, he heard the officers in the executive unit targeting him.
“He said the, ‘MF party got out of hand last night.’ So then Greg said, using profanity, ‘That shouldn’t have happened.’So then Mike Martin pointed to me and said, ‘I don’t trust that MF. Lets go in the office,’” said Davis.
Davis never came forward with the information until after speaking with prosecutors in 2008. Shortly after, the 25-year veteran was fired from the force.
During opening statements Monday, city attorneys painted Davis as an opportunist. City Attorney June Adams said Davis only came forward years later when he saw that two police officers were awarded $6.5 million in a whistle-blower lawsuit.
Kilpatrick was subsequently charged and convicted of perjury in connection with the testimony give in the whistle-blower’s trial.
Davis said he never reported the incidents because he was instructed not to and because he was fearful of retaliation.
Davis said he’s only coming forward with the new information because prosecutors insisted he testify under oath.
Local 4 has learned that Kilpatrick will most likely not be called to testify in the case, but several city officials will take the stand in the trial that is expected to last about a week.
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