Michigan State Police are investigating the Grosse Ile Police Department following a lawsuit filed by the department's first female officer, who alleges she was demoted and suspended after reporting alleged witness intimidation by the police commission chairman.

What to know:

Michigan State Police are investigating the Grosse Ile Police Department following a lawsuit filed by the department's first female officer, who alleges gender discrimination and retaliation.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said it was investigating  police matters  and declined to confirm if the lawsuit was directly tied to the investigation.

The officer claims she was demoted and suspended after reporting alleged witness intimidation by Police Commission Chairman Scott Longton during a home invasion investigation.


Michigan State Police are investigating the Grosse Ile Police Department following a lawsuit filed by the department's first female officer, who alleges she was demoted and suspended after reporting alleged witness intimidation by the police commission chairman.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office confirmed the investigation is underway but said it was not prompted by a resident petition calling for state police involvement. The prosecutor's office would only say it is investigating  police matters  and declined to confirm whether the investigation is directly connected to the lawsuit.

Officer alleges retaliation, demotion

In a lawsuit filed in August, Grosse Ile Officer Susan Dalpiaz claims she was demoted from detective to patrol officer and suspended for two days after reporting alleged witness intimidation by Police Commission Chairman Scott Longton.

According to the lawsuit, Dalpiaz was assigned to investigate a home invasion that occurred in May. During the investigation, she identified a juvenile suspect who had been at the home with a group of teens earlier in the day.

The lawsuit claims Longton was a close, personal friend of the suspect's mother.

It claims Longton called the father of a juvenile witness in the case and threatened to pursue charges against the

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