What Should Have Happened
- Union representation should ensure fair process without influencing investigation outcomes
- Same representation standards should apply equally across parallel cases
- Union involvement should be documented for transparency
- Representation should not affect MCOLES reporting categories
What Actually Happened
- Union representative actively shaped how employment matters were handled
- Same representative potentially represented multiple officers in related investigations
- Union influence extended to retirement negotiation terms
- Outcomes varied between similarly-situated officers despite same union representation
People Involved
Event Details
Overview
Three days after Marc King ’s OWI arrest, Steve Sellers —POAM (Police Officers Association of Michigan) Business Agent—was contacted to provide union representation. This step initiated the formal employment protection process that would shape how investigations and disciplinary proceedings unfolded.
The Role of Union Representation
Why This Contact Matters
Under police union contracts, officers facing disciplinary investigations have the right to union representation during interviews and proceedings. The timing of when Steve Sellers was contacted establishes:
- When formal process began - Union contact signals the shift from informal handling to official disciplinary proceedings
- Officer awareness - Deputies knew they were facing potential discipline
- Protection of rights - Garrity warnings and other procedural protections come into play
Steve Sellers’ Involvement
Steve Sellers would go on to be present at key investigative interviews, including the internal interview of Scott Jones on November 11, 2022.
AThe – if you want to call it the investigative interview, but it was the second interview I had with Jones. The first was the HR setting; this would be the one with Business Agent Sellers present.
The Union’s Influence
Deposition testimony reveals that Steve Sellers actively participated in shaping how employment matters were handled:
AFrom what I recall, Business Agent Sellers asked for…
This indicates the union representative was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in negotiations and proceedings.
Timeline Context
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2022 | Marc King OWI arrest |
| Nov 7, 2022 | Request to charge prepared |
| Nov 9, 2022 | Union representative Steve Sellers contacted |
| Nov 10, 2022 | Planning for internal interviews |
| Nov 11, 2022 | Internal interview of Scott Jones (Sellers present) |
Why This Matters
The involvement of Steve Sellers is significant for several reasons:
1. Establishes Due Process
Union involvement ensures officers receive contractual protections during disciplinary proceedings. This is a standard and appropriate part of the process.
2. Shapes Outcomes
Union negotiations can influence disciplinary outcomes, separation terms, and how incidents are characterized in official records (such as MCOLES reporting).
3. Creates Documentation
Union involvement typically generates additional documentation—meeting notes, correspondence, negotiated agreements—that may be obtainable via FOIA.
4. Parallel Representation
Steve Sellers potentially represented multiple officers in related investigations (both Marc King and Scott Jones ), which may have influenced how the cases were handled relative to each other.
Open Questions
- What specific requests did Steve Sellers make on behalf of represented officers?
- Were Marc King and Scott Jones represented in the same or separate negotiations?
- What union agreements or contracts governed the disciplinary process?
- Did union involvement affect the timing or content of MCOLES reporting?
Related Documentation Needs
- Union correspondence regarding this matter
- Meeting notes from sessions with Steve Sellers present
- Collective bargaining agreement provisions on discipline
- POAM records related to representation in these cases