Lt. Matthew Furman of the Melvindale Police Division in Michigan is the quintessential dangerous cop; the one we’ve seen tons of of instances on movies over time, utilizing the ability of the badge to harass, intimidate and abuse Black residents — solely to proceed being promoted throughout the division.
Physique digital camera movies reveal Furman to be a condescending cop who appears to get pleasure from destroying the lives of Black individuals, tasering them when they’re posing no risk to him.
And his personnel information reveal a cop who has been suspended, fired, sued and criminally charged over the 12 years he has been a cop.
However now he’s a lieutenant overseeing a number of cops, making nearly $110,000 a 12 months, in response to OpenGovPay, in a city the place the median revenue is simply over $41,000.
Even the native mainstream media, which normally takes pains to stay “goal” in the case of reporting on police abuse, confer with him as “Melvindale’s most polarizing police officer.”
In essence, he’s the kind of cop who makes individuals lose belief in regulation enforcement, an abusive cop protected by police unions. And he stays protected as a result of he generates tons of of hundreds of {dollars} in income for impounding vehicles, in response to a former police chief who filed a lawsuit, claiming he was fired for attempting to maintain Furman in test.
The most recent incident that surfaced final week with the discharge of bodycam footage occurred final April after Furman approached a Black mom sitting in a automotive parked exterior a faculty to drop off her 11-year-old daughter for cheerleading apply.
Alicia Prepare dinner stated she was driving a good friend’s automotive and had simply obtained information that the good friend had simply gone via coronary heart surgical procedure when Furman approached her, telling her the registration on the automotive had expired and the car was not insured.
Furman grew to become enraged when he requested for her driver’s license however Prepare dinner instructed him “one second” as a result of she had simply answered a cellphone name from her mom.
“You’re on a site visitors cease, don’t inform me one second,” Furman instructed her. “I’m supplying you with a lawful police order, it’s a public entry car parking zone, I’ve full jurisdiction, similar to I do this roadway.”
“So lose the perspective and do as you’re instructed,” he demanded.
He then referred to as for backup and commenced claiming he was in concern for his security, although Prepare dinner did nothing to point she was going to hurt him.
“I gave you a lawful order, and I’m involved about my security since you’re not doing what I instructed you. I would like your ID and your keys,” he added.
“I’m frightened about my security,” Prepare dinner clarified.
Furman then started tasering her and yanking her out of the automotive, ordering her to lie face down on the bottom together with her fingers behind her again.
“Once I let you know to do one thing, you do it,” he yelled. “I instructed you I used to be involved for my security.”
“I used to be terrified from you,” he instructed her after she was handcuffed. “You terrified me. You scared me.”
Prepare dinner was jailed on a number of prices, together with resisting arrest, interference with a police officer, and driving with a suspended license, however these prices had been all dismissed by prosecutors.
“He shouldn’t be on the drive,” Prepare dinner instructed WXYZ. “Nobody ought to ever should encounter coping with somebody that really feel like their authority is extra necessary than an individual’s humanity.”
Watch the bodycam video of Prepare dinner’s arrest under.
Prior Incidents and Disciplinary Motion
Three months later, in July 2024, Furman did the identical to a Black man named Drakkar Williams, who was tasered and yanked out of his automotive after being pulled over for driving round site visitors barricades.
Williams was charged with resisting arrest, interfering with police, and offering false data to a police officer, which had been all dismissed, however he pleaded responsible to driving with a suspended license, with out insurance coverage, and darkish tints.
In January, Williams filed a lawsuit towards Furman and one other lieutenant, accusing them of gross negligence, assault and battery, false arrest and extra, WXYZ reported.
Furman can be being investigated by Michigan State Police over the arrest of Williams, however he has been investigated prior to now and continues to abuse his energy.
In 2016, he was suspended for 3 days for yanking a mom out of her automotive in entrance of her kids after pulling her over for not having insurance coverage, however that suspension was overturned by the Public Security Committee, WXYZ reported.
A couple of months later, he slammed a theft suspect’s head right into a patrol automotive whereas he was handcuffed, splitting the person’s head open. Two cops who witnessed the incident acknowledged below oath that his actions had been uncalled for, together with one cop who described the incident as being “manner over the road.”
However an outdoor investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing in that incident as nicely.
In 2018, former Melvindale Police Chief Chad Hayes filed a lawsuit, accusing Furman of partaking in “repeated incidents of police brutality.”
The previous chief additionally accused Furman of towing an extreme quantity of vehicles so as to elevate income for town, claiming the rogue cop was answerable for 80 % of all impounded vehicles, producing $500,000 in income.
Hayes claimed he was fired for attempting to maintain Furman’s aggressive actions in test, and he seems to have obtained a settlement from that lawsuit, courtroom information point out, however the quantity has not been publicized.
Thought of a part of Detroit’s metropolitan space, Melvindale is a tiny municipality of lower than three sq. miles with a inhabitants of lower than 13,000 individuals, 87 % of whom are white whereas 5 % are Black, in response to the U.S. Census.
In 2019, Furman was charged with assault and battery for abusing a drunk man, however these prices had been dismissed, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Nonetheless, he ended up fired over that incident earlier than an arbitrator overruled the termination, permitting Furman to proceed his revenue-generating abuse.
However when requested by native media if Furman understands find out how to de-escalate interactions with residents, Melvindale Mayor Nicole Shkira stated no.
“I really feel like within the warmth of the second, he must learn to put apart anger and simply do his job,” Shkira instructed WXYZ.
When interviewed by WXYZ, Furman claimed he’s “proactive” for his personal security.
“My precedence’s doing no matter I’ve to do to go house,” he stated.
“And if which means somebody’s getting tasered, then somebody’s getting tasered. Then I’m going house to my household and my pals. That’s my No. 1 objective,” he admitted.
Watch the video under to see what West Virginia legal professional John Bryan, host of The Civil Rights Lawyer YouTube channel, has to say about Furman.
