Port Huron Police Department Leadership Faces Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Misconduct

The leadership of the Port Huron Police Department is under intense scrutiny following a series of troubling incidents involving officers, casting doubt on claims of progress and positive direction within the department.

Former Chief of Police Joe Platzer, who recently stepped down, had expressed confidence in Asst. Chief Brian Kerrigan’s ability to lead the department forward, stating, “We’ve led the department in a direction that’s very positive, and I know that he’ll continue with his visions.”

Port Huron City Manager James “Casanova” Freed echoed Platzer’s misguided sentiments and assessment of Kerrigan’s leadership abilities, while also continuing to ignorantly praise Platzer’s time at the helm of the department.

However, several serious incidents over the past few years suggest that this positive outlook may be far from the reality of the situation, raising concerns about a lack of accountability and oversight at the highest levels of the department.

Let’s take a look at the “positive direction” that Platzer claims the department has been on.

Unaddressed Affair Leads to Tragedy

One of the earliest incidents casting a shadow over the department’s leadership occurred in 2018, when Lt. Joel Wood was engaged in an extramarital affair with Ashly Bauman (Reifert), a civilian staff member. Both Wood and Bauman were married to other individuals at the time.

Bauman served as the secretary to the previous police chief, before Platzer’s tenure. Despite knowledge of the affair spreading within the department, neither Wood nor Bauman faced disciplinary action for their behavior.

Many believe this lack of intervention played a role in the tragic outcome, as Lt. Wood ultimately died under circumstances linked to the affair. Critics argue that if department leadership had acted to address the misconduct, Lt. Wood might still be alive. This incident highlights what some see as a culture of negligence and inaction among the top brass of the department.

Officer’s Brutal Assault Covered Up by Leadership

In 2022, another violent episode brought further scrutiny to the Port Huron Police Department.

Officer Tristan Shoudy brutally assaulted local resident Charles Reid while on duty. The attack, witnessed by other officers, including a cadet undergoing field training, was captured on bodycams worn by Shoudy and others at the scene.

Following the incident, Asst. Chief Kerrigan issued a public statement claiming that Ofc. Shoudy had been disciplined and ordered to undergo additional training to address his violent behavior. However, a records request by The Current revealed that Kerrigan’s claims were false; no such training had been provided to Shoudy.

The lack of transparency and honesty from the department’s leadership was troubling enough, as it was also revealed that Shoudy is the son of Todd Shoudy, a partner at the law firm Fletcher Fealko Shoudy Francis PC and the city attorney. This connection has fueled accusations of favoritism, further eroding public trust in the department.

Officer Involved in Fatal Incident Outside Roche Bar

Another troubling incident unfolded in late 2023, involving Ofc. Chelsea Koehn. Video footage showed Koehn assisting staff members from the Roche Bar in a physical altercation that led to the death of 26-year-old Joshua Conant.

The footage makes clear that Koehn’s intervention, or lack thereof, contributed directly to the fatal outcome. Critics argue that Koehn’s actions demonstrated her poor training and a failure to follow proper policing techniques, which played a direct role in Conant’s death.

The incident has sparked outrage among community members and calls for an investigation into the department’s training protocols, suggesting a need for a comprehensive overhaul of how officers respond to calls.

Intoxicated Officer Allowed to Report for Duty

Most recently, in 2024, Detective Tom Rumley was charged and convicted of operating under the influence after reporting for duty while visibly intoxicated.

This incident was not an isolated one.

According to sources within the department, there had been previous occasions where Rumley showed up for work under the influence of alcohol. Instead of addressing these issues with appropriate disciplinary measures, department leadership allegedly covered up Rumley’s actions, allowing him to continue working without consequences.

This failure to enforce acceptable standards of conduct only further highlights a systemic problem within the department’s leadership.

Leadership Accountability Under Question

All these incidents—occurring under the leadership of Joe Platzer and Brian Kerrigan—have raised serious questions about the integrity of the Port Huron Police Department’s command staff. Community members and critics are now calling for an investigation into why officers involved in illegal or unethical behavior have not been appropriately disciplined and why they continue to be employed by the department.

These questions point to a broader concern about the culture within the police department, suggesting that a lack of proper oversight and discipline may be endemic. The apparent unwillingness of department leaders to hold their officers accountable for misconduct has led to growing mistrust among the community.

A Call for Systemic Change

The recent spate of misconduct and the failure to enforce accountability among officers have left many in the community demanding change. When police officers act worse than the criminals they are sworn to apprehend, it not only tarnishes the reputation of the department but also erodes public trust in law enforcement.

These incidents suggest a deep-rooted issue within the Port Huron Police Department that needs to be addressed. Reform must start at the top, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and proper oversight.

Only by confronting these problems head-on can the department begin to restore its reputation and regain the trust of the community it serves.

Until the current command staff at PHPD is removed and replaced with more competent leadership, residents in the City of Port Huron will continue to suffer.