Woodhaven Mayor Patricia Odette is under investigation after submitting, then pulling back, a resignation earlier this month, city officials confirmed. The inquiry stems from concerns raised by City Administrator Jeff Harris, who told council members he had issues with the mayor’s conduct. At an April 7 City Council meeting, Odette publicly called for both her office and Harris to be scrutinized as part of any probe.
According to ClickOnDetroit, Harris brought the allegations to the council and described them only as "misuse of city funds and resources," declining to offer more specifics while the investigation is underway. The outlet reports Harris told council members that Odette’s decision to resign came in direct response to the allegations he planned to present, an account that Odette’s attorney has denied.
The city’s official website still lists Patricia Odette as mayor and posts council agendas and meeting details for residents looking to track how this unfolds. Local meeting schedules and contact information for City Hall and the City Administrator’s office are also available through the municipal site.
Odette has long been active in Downriver civic life and has been publicly involved in major local projects, including the Allen Road grade-separation effort that county and state officials rolled out with Woodhaven’s support. Coverage by WXYZ shows she has remained a visible presence on infrastructure and development issues in recent months.
What an Internal Probe Could Mean
Under Michigan law, embezzlement by a public officer can be treated as a felony if public money is knowingly taken for personal use. In practice, investigations into municipal officials can end very differently: some result in internal discipline or policy changes, some move on to prosecutors as potential criminal cases, and others wrap up with no formal action if evidence does not support the allegations.
What to Watch Next
The City Council is the body expected to oversee any formal inquiry and could decide at an upcoming meeting whether to bring in outside legal counsel or investigators. Residents can follow agenda updates and livestreams through the city’s website. ClickOnDetroit reports that Harris has declined to elaborate on the allegations and that Odette’s attorney disputes his characterization. Both sides have so far held off on issuing more detailed public statements while the probe continues.
