Detroit firefighter Lt. James Hill-Harris was accused of submitting about 150 hours of false time records, estimated at $120,000, after an investigation by the Detroit Office of Inspector General found mismatches between his reported hours and key-card, phone, and log data dating back to 2018. He was initially discharged by Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms but later reinstated in a lower fire-operations position after the union appealed, with officials saying, "We granted them an appeal, and they provided additional support on his behalf," as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
Two supervisors, Chief Dennis Richardson and Captain Rance Dixon, were also cited for not catching the payroll issues, with the Office of Inspector General reporting that they did not meet their supervisory duties. In a statement obtained by ClickOnDetroit, Inspector General Kamau Marable noted the agency’s work with Detroit police, saying, "Their partnership was instrumental in helping us identify time fraud and protect integrity in City operations."
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office declined to pursue charges against Hill-Harris due to insufficient evidence, but Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standard permanently revoked his law enforcement certification on June 4 for “egregious misconduct involving his lack of accountability,” as per Metro Times. The Detroit Fire Department implemented new measures, including hiring a civilian payroll manager and requiring physical clock-ins, which officials say have contributed to reduced overtime. Hill-Harris disputes the findings, and his attorney stated that “The OIG's report is factually incorrect, procedurally defective under § 7.5-311 of the Detroit City Charter, and defies common sense.” The attorney also said “The report suggests a predetermined conclusion and disregards sworn evidence submitted by decorated public servants who have served the City of Detroit for decades,” as mentioned by FOX 2 Detroit.
