News Story

Back Pay Boosted Reinstated Cop to $201K

Cleared of sexual misconduct, officer was highest paid Dearborn employee in 2018

A Dearborn police officer who was suspended without pay for 19 months received reimbursement for his lost wages in 2018, pushing his total wages to $201,047 for the year. The payment came after the officer was cleared of criminal charges involving a traffic stop, and made him the city’s highest paid employee for 2018.

Officer Justin Smith was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2016 after he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman during a traffic stop, according to WDIV. Smith is married and has five children. Smith and his family were forced to live with relatives during his suspension, according to WDIV.

Smith was acquitted by a judge on Jan. 10, 2018, according to the city of Dearborn.

City records show that from the first of this year until July 25, Smith earned $47,577.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.