[Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player above.]
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has learned city of Cleveland Safety Director Karrie Howard has resigned.
The mayor’s office has confirmed he submitted his resignation, which is effective immediately. It reads:
Dear Mayor Bibb,
I am writing to inform you of a significant decision that I have made regarding my role as the Chief Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland. After much contemplation and deliberation, I have chosen to resign from this position. Serving the City of Cleveland has been a profound honor. I am appreciative of the opportunity to serve.
In Service,
Karrie D. Howard, Esq.Karrie Howard resignation letter
This comes days after the I-Team revealed an assistant safety director had crashed a city car with kids on board, and Howard admitted on camera that he too had driven with his son in a city car.
Howard had the job of enforcing compliance with city policies by safety employees, yet he also admitted he was unaware of the city policy regarding children in a city vehicle.
The policy says employees can only have other employees in city vehicles.
This week, the I-Team also challenged Howard on our finding of no city records of regular fire inspections of “maximum risk” buildings such as high-rises.
The safety director said the fire department does not use the term “maximum risk,” yet it’s on page No. 1 of the inspections policy.
Last year, the I-Team also revealed Orange police pulled Howard over in a city car late at night for running a stop sign. He claimed he had been out driving around high-crime areas in Cleveland.
Howard has also made headlines for inflammatory comments about the ethnic background of many police officers.
City Police Chief Wayne Drummond has been appointed to serve as interim public safety director while a search for the city searches for Howard’s permanent replacement, according to a news release from the city. Drummond has been a Cleveland police officer for more than 30 years, according to the release.
Deputy Chief Dorothy Todd has been permanently promoted to chief of police.
“Todd has served in the division for more than 20 years and we are confident that her leadership will set a course for success moving forward,” reads the release.
City council members in a statement Friday thanked Howard “for his years of service to the city of Cleveland.”
During his tenure with the city, Howard has served as Chief Prosecutor, and most recently as Public Safety Director. As a Marine Corps veteran, JAG Officer in the Air Force Reserves, and public servant, Howard has devoted his life to serving people. Council wishes him well in his future endeavors.
Council looks forward to working with Interim Public Safety Director Drummond and congratulates incoming Chief of Police Dorothy Todd.
Statement from Cleveland City Council members
Public Safety Chair Mike Polensek, Ward 8, said, “I’ve worked with Interim Safety Director Drummond for more than 30 years and I trust he will continue his work to make Cleveland a safer city.”
Council President Blaine Griffin, Ward 6, said, “Chief Todd and I have worked collaboratively over the years on many pressing and sensitive safety issues in Cleveland. I look forward to building upon the relationship.”
Ed Gallek
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