Dearborn, Michigan – After a two-month leave of absence following an arrest for alleged drunken driving, Dearborn’s Fire Chief has returned to work. Today, we delve into why he’s been permitted to resume his duties, and the community’s reactions to his second chance.
Dearborn’s fire chief has refrained from granting interviews, but the circumstances surrounding his return have been a topic of interest within the community.
When approached by reporters after his release from custody in Dearborn Heights two months ago, the fire chief politely declined to comment.
On the streets of Dearborn, opinions vary. Kenneth Donegan expressed his concern, stating, “In my opinion, no, he shouldn’t be back. DUI is very serious. Someone could get hurt in that situation.”
The alleged incident of drunken driving and a field sobriety test in which the chief reportedly stumbled led to his initial leave of absence. While our interview request was denied, we did receive a statement addressing the decision to reinstate him. The statement read in part: “After careful consideration, my administration has decided to reinstate Joseph Murray as Chief… the choice to retain Chief Murray derives from balancing a two-decade-long career in public service and the humility to not evaluate an individual in their darkest moments.”
Citizen Khairddin Al-Daratkech offered a different perspective: “We can’t judge him and kick him out after what he did for the city. He did a lot of service and fought a lot for houses and people.”
To date, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office reports not having received any paperwork for a warrant request related to this case. Our attempts to reach the Dearborn Heights Police for an update are ongoing.
Furthermore, the mayor has informed fire department employees that the chief has taken accountability and agreed to preventive measures. The fire chief has remained out of the public eye since his arrest in late August, when he was allegedly caught driving 15 mph over the speed limit and weaving in traffic at 2:44 a.m. Blood test results have not been disclosed.
The fire chief is expected to rebuild trust over the next year through a series of required activities, including community service. His employment is conditional upon avoiding any further offenses.
