Before He Resigned, Report Called for Inkster Chief’s Dismissal

New details are emerging that indicate Inkster’s top cop might have been removed as police chief before he abruptly resigned last week, citing a lack of resources and trauma over the brutal murder of a 2-year-old girl.

Hilton Napoleon’s resignation was effective Friday, but WXYZ, Channel 7, reports its news department obtained a scathing report called for the chief’s dismissal. The Inkster City Council received the report in May, the TV station said, but had not been made public.

The 12-page report cited plummeting morale among officers and a “bunker mentality,” and said the police department has “evolved into the chief’s private militia.”

Napoleon, 60, was led the department for three years, said the strength of the police force has been whittled to about two dozen officers from 60 when he took command in 2011.

He didn’t mention the report in his resignation or a subsequent news conference, but told the television station it was unrelated to his decision and that he will give a detailed response later.

The report said that in 2012, the department cleared only 23 percent of its aggravated assault cases, 11 percent of its robberies and none of its murders, giving residents of the Downriver community of 25,000 “a prevailing feeling of chaos and hopelessness.”

The Risk Management Associates consultants who completed the report said there has been an “obvious effort by responding officers not to take reports” and an “ineffective and insufficient investigative function.”

Inkster’s murder rate doubled to 18 in 2013, up from nine year prior, according to the 2014 state of the city report.