Waterford Police Chief Investigated For Removing Yard Signs From Front Of Gas Station

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A suburban Detroit police chief has been placed on administrative leave as the state police investigate the removal of political yard signs opposing new taxes, including a public safety millage, ahead of Michigan's August primary.

Waterford chief Daniel McCaw said he removed several signs in July that were posted against township ordinance outside a vacant gas station, WDIV-TV reported Saturday.

"He clearly followed the law," said Todd Flood, McCaw's attorney. "He removed signs that were in violation of the ordinance ... and this is really much ado about nothing."

Michigan Association of Police Executive Director Fred Timpner told The Detroit News that one of McCaw's patrol officers saw the signs being tossed into a trash bin. The association is Michigan's largest police union and represents 55 Waterford Township officers.

"Officers had been advised to be on the lookout for persons stealing political signs," said Timpner. "This officer noticed a suspicious vehicle and found a person taking signs out of the vehicle and disposing of them in a Dumpster. He was surprised to find the person involved was his chief."

McCaw was appointed police chief in 2006. He told the newspaper he believes the complaint was initiated by a "disgruntled officer."

Flood called the investigation a "witch hunt."

"Politics always becomes personal, doesn't it?" Flood said. "He'll stand through it and we'll clear his name quickly. I'm not worried about that. I'm sad it's gotten this far."

Voters in the township northwest of Detroit passed the police millage renewal.