‘Haircut’ Cop Gets Fired
You may have read about the Warren, Michigan woman who was forced to undergo a haircut while in police custody. Happily, the abusive cop who chopped the locks has been fired.
[Charda] Gregory told WXYZ that [ Warren Police Officer Bernadette ] Najor’s clip job had given her bald spots and that her real hair was ripped out. A beautician, hair was her work.
A single mom with a young son, she was detained at the Warren police station for 14 days. When she was released, Gregory barely remembered what had happened. She thought she may have been drugged earlier that night when she went to a party, Misukewicz said. But when he showed her the police booking video, he said she was visibly upset.
When police command found out, Najor was put on leave and then fired on Dec. 12. One of the other officers wrote up the incident, but Najor didn’t file other paperwork that’s required when police use force, according to Galasso.
“I read the police report and was stunned at the very bottom line … that stated that this person’s hair was cut off,” Galasso said. He then reviewed the video of the incident.
Najor offered an explanation of his action to officials, saying that cutting Gregory’s hair was necessary to prevent possible self-harm or destruction of property, according to the Macomb Daily. That reasoning didn’t make sense to Misukewicz or command, and Galasso said they found no excuse for Najor’s actions.
Galasso said the Warren police officer’s union has contested Najor’s termination, and arbitration will take place in the next few months.The other officers involved are still under review.
All charges against Gregory were dropped.
