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As promised, WXYZ-TV spent more than six-minutes of it’s 6:00 newscast last night looking into the off-duty life of a Detroit firefighter. What reporter Scott Lewis found was not very pretty. It starts with two women who claimed Mike Risher hit them outside a bar almost two-years-ago. Much of that incident was caught on video. The women make the case that, despite that video and statements from witnesses, police in Hamtramck refused to investigate the case properly because it involved a firefighter.
Scott Lewis says that allegation is backed up in the story of a witness the reporter tracked down. The unidentified witness related something one of the police officers told him, “I can tell you right now, not much is going to come of this because he’s a Detroit fireman.”
In addition to the fight outside the bar, reporter Lewis shows video of what he says is another bar fight involving Risher. A couple who sued following that fight claimed Risher avoided being arrested after flashing his firefighter’s badge. The couple won a $15,000 judgment against the firefighter.
Lewis also claims police have been called to Risher’s home three times for domestic issues.
In addition to having his private life very publicly displayed, the TV station’s report has brought new issues for Firefighter Mike Risher. It has prompted police to take another look at the fight with the two women and it is bringing scrutiny from Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin.
Here are some excerpts from the WXYZ-TV investigation:
7 Action News emailed Risher a copy of the security video from the Mars Bar. We asked him to point out where in the video he was seen intervening in another fight as he claimed. We also asked him about allegations raised in the prior bar fight and the alleged assault on his wife.
Risher did not respond.
The Investigators also contacted Hamtramck Police Chief Maxwell Garbarino and asked him why officers did not allow the women to make a report or look at their video. Garbarino, who was not the chief at the time of the incident, indicated that a detective should have followed up on the complaint. Garbarino has now assigned a detective to take a fresh look at the incident and he said both women will be brought into the police department for interviews.
7 Action News also contacted Detroit Fire Commissioner Donald Austin and asked him whether Risher’s behavior could be in violation of any fire department rules or regulations. Austin indicated he would be watching our investigation and stated that there is a chance Risher could be charged departmentally with conduct unbecoming of a firefighter.
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Also on STATter911 …
- Caught on video: A different kind of black eye for Detroit FD. TV station looks at claims off-duty firefighter punched two women & cops went easy on him. – October 24, 2012
- Detroit’s Charlie LeDuff faces camera after drunken weekend fight. Complaint to police says reporter urinated in public & bit security guard. – March 14, 2013
- Detroit fire commissioner sees money in firefighter tourists. Memo suggests charging for ride-along training program that would put the visitors to work. – September 7, 2012
- DC Fire & EMS cadets claim instructors sexually harassed them. Investigation underway. – February 21, 2013
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Potential steroid abuse, alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, badge abuse, ignorant\stupid view of women, lying and then lying again after stating he never knew anything about the bar. Do these morons think that when they’re being taped that this wouldn’t possibly be entered as evidence in court? You have the right to remain silent, you may want to exercise it because you’re stupid.
And Austin is waiting for the cops to do an investigation. I guess at least he didn’t deny it this time. But seriously, waiting to do something about this a-hole? I know, union contract blah, blah, blah. But if anyone from the union would actually back this guy up, they’re as stupid as he is.
Bar fires, bar fights, bar bells, ding dongs, Statter911 going cuckoo
First of all missssss lady, who are you to determine if he should be a firemen or not just cause you cant take a punch. Second, these drama queens look pretty good after taking a hit from a ( 45 MPH car). Give it up.
I would guess he probably has higher connections that must’ve kept this and other incidents quiet. He probably needs to find work that doesn’t require working with the public. I think maybe Matt needs to look sat the story again, I don’t see anything that makes them “drama queens”. A guy on ‘roid rage punching women isn’t something to defend.
Really Matt? How can you even begin to take his side? This guy is an embarrassment to the brotherhood. Your defense of this person is literally the dumbest thing I’ve read all day on the internet and THAT takes some effort.
DFD had no problem letting go of Fred Wheeler after his Leduff incident. Please do us all a favor and fire this moron as well!
I think on one hand it comes down to Statute of limitations as to when the crimes come to light.
Rememebr the issue last year with an LAFD Engine seen in the bckground at a beach phot shoot?
So, what Donald Austin can do now may be limited. But obvioulsy, the future will be different and he more than likely should go into some other line of work.
The DFD riding high after the premier of “Burn”, The Documentary, doesn’t need a Bad Apple to spoil things.
Mike Risher has always been an idiot. He’s an insecure loser who can’t go into another line of work because he doesn’t have ANY qualifications! I hope he’s fired and thrown in jail for a while. That Roid raging meat head needs to learn a lesson in how to live in society!