Wayne County Prosecutor Public Integrity Unit
Wayne County Prosecutor
Public Integrity Unit
The Public Integrity Unit (PI Unit) of the Special Operations Division is a specialized unit consisting of three experienced prosecutors and one prosecutor's detective. This unit reviews allegations of misconduct, corruption or other criminal activity where the suspect is a police officer or a public official. All allegations of this type occurring in Wayne County are referred to this unit. The unit then conducts a complete and independent investigation in conjunction with the warrant review process. Allegations reviewed by the unit include:
- All fatal or non-fatal shootings of any person by any law enforcement officer, operating on or off-duty;
- All in-custody inmate, prisoner or detainee death investigations;
- All police officer misconduct investigations, including alleged criminal activities by on or off-duty officers
All public official misconduct or corruption investigations, including alleged criminal activity.
Contact Information
You can contact the PI Unit at (313) 224-6869
How are incidents reviewed?
- The PI Unit reviews the police reports and the warrant request and conducts its own independent investigation of the case. This includes, but is not limited to, interviewing witness who have already been interviewed by the police agency, interviewing additional witnesses if needed, conducting investigative subpoenas if warranted, requesting additional physical evidence, requesting additional records, and requesting scientific or laboratory tests.
- At the conclusion of its review, which may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the case and the amount of additional work needed, the PI Unit makes a recommendation as to any criminal charges in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I am the victim of a crime committed by a police officer or public official. Who do I complain to?
A. If the allegation involves a police officer you should file a written complaint with the police department that the officer works for, the Michigan State Police or the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. If it is against another type of public official the complaint should be brought to the law enforcement agency that is responsible for policing the location where the crime occurred. Alternatively, you may contact an appropriate federal law enforcement agency if the allegations involve a federal official or officer.
Q. Can the prosecutor's office handle my case directly?
A. Generally, we are not an investigative agency. It is our responsibility to take the results of the investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies and determine whether charges are appropriate and if so prosecute them in court. On limited occasions, however, the prosecutor's office may conduct an independent investigation of alleged criminal activity.
Q. I don't trust my local police, how can I complain to them?
A. Most departments have experienced officers specifically assigned to handle internal investigations. In our experience, they conduct thorough, unbiased investigations. If you are not satisfied with their processing of your complaint you may make a complaint to the Michigan State Police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Election Fraud Cases
The Office of the Michigan Attorney General has exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of election fraud. You can contact the Attorney General at (517) 373-1110
Kym L. Worthy
1200 Frank Murphy
1441 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48226
Ph: (313) 224-5777
Fx: (313) 224-0974