MELVINDALE, Mich. – A Melvindale police lieutenant faces multiple misconduct charges stemming from three separate assault incidents, marking his second round of criminal charges in recent years.
Lt. Matthew Furman appeared via Zoom for arraignment, where he received a $50,000 personal bond. The judge also ordered he be put on a GPS tether and turn in all his weapons.
On Thursday, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges related to three separate incidents occurring between 2021 and 2024.
The charges stem from allegations that include kicking a handcuffed suspect multiple times, using a taser on a woman who refused to exit her vehicle, and deploying a taser on a man who failed to present identification.
Police Department Under Scrutiny
This marks the second time Furman has faced criminal charges.
The lieutenant previously reached a plea agreement in 2019 for assault and battery charges, resulting in one year of probation.
Just the other month, the city council also took action by hiring a private investigator to examine the department amid mounting lawsuits.
The Police Officers Association of Michigan expressed concerns about the delayed response to these incidents. In a statement saying, “It’s been challenging enough in recent years to recruit and keep good officers. With fewer qualified candidates, some departments may be forced to lower hiring standards or take chances on applicants who might not have otherwise made the cut — and that can create problems down the road. Taking swifter action locally to remove bad apples is far better than allowing problems to grow until they make headlines. Doing so protects the public, safeguards the profession’s reputation, and supports the officers out there doing the job the right way every day.”
Administrative Action Taken
The Melvindale Police Department has placed Furman on administrative leave without pay. Michigan State Police conducted the external investigation. Furman’s Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards license was suspended.