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Rescue 4: Mystery Lights Found In 'Undercover' SUV

Mayor Says Vehicle Not Intended For Use By Wife

POSTED: Tuesday, January 18, 2005
UPDATED: 6:33 pm EST January 19, 2005

Some lights discovered inside an SUV have caused suspicion of Detroit city officials' claims that the leased vehicle is used for police undercover work, Rescue 4's Waste Watchers reported.

Allegations regarding the 2005 Lincoln Navigator surfaced last week after Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced a series of budget cuts to help reduce a projected $230 million deficit.
City officials claim this Lincoln Navigator was used for police undercover work.

The purchase order of the lease agreement has the words "mayor's lease" on it, but Kilpatrick and other city officials have denied allegations that the mayor's wife, Carlita, had been driving the vehicle.
SLIDESHOW: Lincoln Navigator Investigation
VIDEO: Officials Respond To SUV Investigation
SUV LEASE AGREEMENT: 1 | 2 | 3
VIDEO: Mayor Answers Local 4's Tough Questions
Do you know of wasteful money being spent in Detroit? Send an email to WasteWatchers@clickondetroit.com and we'll check into it.

YOUR TURN: What Do You Think Of Navigator Controversy?

"The Navigator was purchased by the police department, for the police department," Kilpatrick said in an interview with Local 4 Monday night. "(There) was never any intent to use it for my wife."

Rescue 4 investigator Kevin Dietz inspected the SUV on Tuesday and pointed out what appeared to be interior police lights above the rearview mirror and on the rear window.

Rescue 4 learned that the lights are typically installed -- for use in emergencies -- in vehicles used by high-ranking police officers or in vehicles used by the mayor's family. The lights would not be installed in a vehicle that was intended for undercover police work, Dietz reported.

Dietz asked Second Deputy Police Chief James Tate why the lights were installed in the Navigator.

Dietz: "Can you tell us why the car has police lights under it? It's the last thing an undercover narcotics car would have, is police lights."

Tate: "Again, Kevin, we've talked before. I'm here for the photo op. I'm not in control of the police vehicle."

Tate previously told Local 4 that general funds were not used to pay for the lease of the SUV, but he reportedly wouldn't say if the money came from drug forfeiture proceeds.

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