Roseville Cop Charged With Reckless Driving In Ferndale

FERNDALE, MI — A Roseville Police officer accused of driving the wrong way on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale while intoxicated last month was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge Wednesday morning. Ferndale Police didn’t release details of its investigation into one of its lieutenants, who allegedly had the Roseville officer driven home without charging him.

Ferndale Police didn’t immediately return a call from Patch seeking additional information on the investigation.

David Raymer, 40, of Macomb Township, was charged with reckless driving at 43rd District Court in Ferndale. He was released on a $1,500 personal bond by 43rd District Court Magistrate J. Patrick Brennan. Raymer will appear back at the district court on Jan. 16 in front of Judge Joseph Longo.

Raymer, a 14-year veteran of the Roseville department, was stopped by a Ferndale officer on Nov. 9 at approximately 12:30 am. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. He is currently on paid administrative leave.

The Ferndale lieutenant, who was acting in a supervisory role, ordered his officer to bring Raymer and his passenger into the station. The Roseville officer was later driven home without being charged.

"On the surface, this appears to be an example of poor decision making by one of our lieutenants," Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins said. "As a police department, we take cases of operating and driving under the influence incredibly seriously. It's a critical threat to public health and safety, and we as a department work regularly to educate the community to reduce instances of intoxicated driving."

Ferndale Police administration was made aware of the incident by a Ferndale police officer on the evening of Nov. 1, Collins said in a news release. On Nov. 18, an internal investigation was launched. Collins expects that it will be concluded in about a week.

If the lieutenant's actions are found to be in violation of the department's policy and procedures, he could face disciplinary actions.