KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Following the announcement of her retirement earlier this month, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) Karianne Thomas worked her last shift with the department Wednesday.
According to city officials, Thomas, who spent 27 years at the department, was eligible for full retirement as of 2017 and will receive a one-year severance package, per her contract.
Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley has been named chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, effective October 1.
“I’m truly honored to have served the Kalamazoo community and its amazing residents for 27 years,” Thomas said earlier this month. “I am proud to have served as Kalamazoo’s first female chief and I am excited to pass the baton to Assistant Chief Coakley, who has the leadership skills and vision to take this incredible department to the next level. I will truly miss the men and women who put it all on the line every day to keep our community safe.”
The city detailed her career with the department, which included work as a Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team investigator, crime lab technician and specialist, detective bureau sergeant, Drug Enforcement Administration task force agent, inspector, assistant chief and deputy chief.
“Chief Thomas has truly been an outstanding public safety chief and community leader and we wish her and her family all the best in her retirement,” City Manager Jim Ritsema said at the time of the announcement. “Chief Thomas helped build an outstanding department that has become a model for public safety services across the nation and we look forward to working with Chief Coakley to build on KDPS’ many successes and continue its track record of service and safety.”
In the last few months, Thomas and Coakley, along with KDPS and the City of Kalamazoo, have faced criticism from residents for the way they handled Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd. During that protest, officers deployed tear gas on participants.
In August, further criticism was aimed at officials over a Proud Boys rally that turned violent and had less police presence than the Black Lives Matter protests.
Protesters demonstrate for police reform in Kalamazoo on 9-16-20 in Downtown Kalamazoo. (Photo by Jeana Gondek)
Calls from city residents demanded that Chief Thomas resign for her part in the matter, along with other city officials.
The department’s handling of those events has also sparked a series of twice-weekly peaceful protests downtown in front of the courthouse. Starting in mid-September, participants have been demanding accountability from KDPS in what they described as a series of failures.
Organizers said they would continue these demonstrations every Wednesday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through September, though they may continue longer than that if needed.
During a protest on Wednesday, September 16, protesters were still demonstrating outside the courthouse as the news of Thomas’ retirement broke.
“We deserve you to be like, ‘look, we didn’t protect you, but this is what we’ll be doing to move forward to protect you now,’” organizer Tamara Custard told WKZO that day. “When we’re not getting those narratives, it’s important for us to keep making that noise and apply that pressure. It’s just gonna be a continuation if we don’t.”
On Wednesday, Chief Thomas’ last day, protests continued downtown with a march planned to the Kalamazoo Department of Safety. More information on that demonstration can be found at this link.
A statement from KDPS regarding the retirement of Thomas can be viewed here.
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