On March 17th, UFC fighter Rafael Fiziev wore a Dearborn Heights police officers uniform in a promotional video.  This video aired in the UK and was published to Youtube, where it's received over 600,000 views in 48 hours.

Mr. Fiziev states in the video that his brother, Hussein, gave him the uniform. 

The city swore in Hussein Mourad on February 14th, 2023.

(The city has not yet uploaded the council meeting from 2/14, however you can view the swearing in at this link: https://fb.watch/jn0paw2b7c/ )

 

Our union contract with our police officers states the following regarding uniform allowance:

• Each police officer, at the time of initial hiring, shall receive a first issue of a complete uniform which shall not include a "dress uniform" and shall thereafter keep and maintain an equivalent set of uniforms, in serviceable condition, neat and clean, at their own expense.
• Effective July 1, 2009, each member shall receive an annual uniform allowance in the amount of two (2%) percent of the maximum base salary which shall be payable on or before the 30th of June of each year.

Since our contract allows for 2% and our starting salary for officers is $36,160, officers can receive up to $725 per year for uniform replacement.  We believe it's safe to assume that at least that much, if not more, was spent with city funds to outfit our newest officer.

Did he give one of his city issued uniforms to Mr Fiziev?  

Perhaps more disturbing is that this is a clear violation of MCL 750.216a which states:

• A person shall not sell, furnish, possess, wear, exhibit, display, or use the badge, patch, or uniform, or facsimile of the badge, patch, or uniform, of any law enforcement agency unless any of the following apply:
  • (a) The person receiving or possessing the badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile is authorized to receive or possess the badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile by the chief officer of the law enforcement agency.
  • (b) The person receiving or possessing the badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile is a member of the law enforcement agency.
  • (c) The badge is a retirement badge and is in the possession of the retired law enforcement officer.
  • (d) The badge, patch, or uniform is the badge, patch, or uniform of a deceased law enforcement officer and is in the possession of his or her spouse, child, or next of kin.
  • (e) The person receiving, possessing, exhibiting, displaying, or using the badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile is a collector of badges, patches, uniforms, or facsimiles. A badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile possessed as part of a collection shall be in a container or display case when being transported.
  • (f) The person is in the theatrical profession and wears the badge, patch, uniform, or facsimile while actually engaged in following that profession.
• A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both. A charge under or a conviction or punishment for a violation of this section does not prevent a person from being charged with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law arising from the same transaction.

Since we know he is not a current officer in the city, the seemingly only legal way for Mr Fiziev to possess and/or wear a Dearborn Heights uniform OR patch is if the police chief gave permission.

Did Chief Jerrod Hart give permission for Officer Mourad to give the uniform pieces, including patches, to Mr Fiziev?

Did Chief Jerrod Hart give permission to Mr Fiziev to wear the uniform and patch as part of his UFC promotional video?

If the answer to the above is yes, Chief Hart and the city need to make immediate announcements of every non-sworn officer, with photo identification, who have been given permission to wear uniforms. 

This is a matter of safety.  How can residents know if an officer is a true officer of our city when uniforms are being given out to family and friends of officers?  In the United States there have been cases of men impersonating officers in order to assault women after "pulling them over".  Now that our uniforms are being worn by non officers, how can any woman feel safe in the city?

If Chief Hart did not give permission, then we demand a full investigation into this event. 

Officer Mourad should be suspended, without pay, immediately. 

Any other officer, elected official, appointed official or city employee who knew that this uniform was given out prior to the airing of the UFC video on March 17, 2023, who did not report this to their supervisor, should be suspended, without pay, immediately.

Any individual who violated MCL 750.216a should be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by the law and should be banned from serving the city as an officer at any time in the future.