Council approves outside vendor for police hiring background checks after heated debate
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
After extended debate over cost and timeliness, the council voted to contract Damron Investigations for police pre-employment background investigations at $1,475 per file. Opponents argued the work could be done in-house at lower cost; supporters cited faster turnaround and reduced overtime burden on detectives.
The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Oct. 28 to award a contract for police hiring background investigations to Damron Investigations at a per-unit cost of $1,475.
Council debate ran more than 30 minutes. Opponents — including one council member who said, “I just don't see why we can't do background checks in house — we've done it for decades” — argued that in-house investigations would avoid vendor fees and could be handled using existing personnel. Supporters, including the police leadership, said in-house investigations require detectives' time and overtime pay, can suffer long delays while officers complete caseloads, and create potential liability or perceived bias when internal staff investigate local candidates.
Police leadership and other supporters said third-party firms shorten turnaround time and reduce overtime and staffing disruptions; they also said outside investigators follow established MCOLs (Michigan Criminal Offender Record Information) and law-enforcement protocols used for sworn hires. Council members raised concerns about the lack of usage statistics comparing actual overtime costs for in-house work versus vendor fees; several asked for data before future renewals.
The final motion authorized a contract with Damron Investigations for background investigations, with the mayor and clerk authorized to sign and the comptroller to allocate payment from the specified account. The council record shows several council members voting no on the award; the motion nevertheless carried.
Why it matters: Hiring speed directly affects police staffing levels and overtime costs; outsourcing background investigations can accelerate hiring but creates ongoing vendor costs and requires contract oversight.
Details: The contract award was presented as a unit cost ($1,475 per background). Supporters said an in-house background often requires detectives to work overtime (cited in discussion as $69–$70 per overtime hour) and that outsourcing avoids delays that can keep newly hired officers off the street. Opponents pressed for comparative data showing actual overtime hours and costs for prior in-house work. Council members noted the contract can be terminated if staffing changes make in-house processing feasible again.
Outlook: The council approved the contract as a near-term measure to expedite hiring while police staffing remains constrained; council members requested post-award reporting on turnaround time and cost comparisons.