South Kent News

A former Grand Rapids-area police chief is seeking compensation from the city that terminated him.

Ex-Lowell Chief of Police Steve Bukala demanded he stay on the city’s payroll for a few more months, threatening legal action if he was removed.

Lowell fired Bukala in response to an alleged Facebook post he made in support of armed young men who wanted to patrol the downtown area to safeguard from rioters.

The post was deleted, and the city subsequently apologized. Bukala, in turn, was given two choices: resign or be fired.

Lowell leaders alleged that Bukala, who resigned, used his office to express personal beliefs unbecoming of his position.

Attorney Katherine Henry, who represents the ousted chief, used the public comment portion of a recent Lowell City Council meeting to defend her client. The meeting was held virtually through the Zoom videoconferencing app.

WOOD TV reported that Bukala was five months away from immediately securing his pension benefits. Bukala asserted that the termination will cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Henry lobbied for Bukala to stay on the payroll until the end of the calendar year so that he could receive the benefits he claims to have lost out on.

The attorney echoed Bukala’s guarantee to initiate litigation. “If we have to take this thing all the way up to the Michigan Supreme Court, we will,” she told WOOD TV.

Bukala viewed the meeting in a tent with several supporters who vouched for him, including Lowell resident Bradley Wade. Wade felt Bukala’s constitutional rights have been infringed upon.

Former Lowell 911 dispatcher Alicia Despres told the City Council that the leadership and Bukala should have talked things out, reported WOOD TV.

Detractors commented as well. Lowell resident Patricia Mogor took issue with Bukala purportedly backing those who brandish weapons and Confederate flags.