'Horrible tragedy' marks start of interim Police Chief David Dicks term

by Bryn Mickle and Shannon Murphy | The Flint Journal

Monday June 02, 2008, 10:31 PM

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• 10:20 p.m. June 2: Few details available about new leadership roles of Richard and David Dicks at Flint Police Department

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(Editor's note: New information was added to this article Tuesday afternoon (June 3, 2008).)

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FLINT, Michigan -- On the day his father was announced as the city's new police chief, Jaquan S. Dudley was shot to death behind a Flint apartment building.

About 90 minutes after the 1 p.m. slaying, as city officials finished a press conference announcing David Dicks as chief, Dicks got word that his 24-year-old son was dead.

"Horrible tragedy," said Flint Mayor Don Williamson, who had also just named Dudley's grandfather, Richard Dicks Sr., to oversee his son and the fire department as the city's new "super chief."

The changes came in the wake of the sudden weekend announcement that former acting police chief Gary Hagler had resigned to take a job with the state Department of Natural Resources.

Family members called Dudley a "real, real sweet kid" who loved his family and was always full of laughter and joy.

Police found Dudley's body after they were called to the Orchard Ridge apartment complex on Pierson Road near Clio Road for a reported shooting.

Dudley was discovered in a driveway at the back of the complex, laying a short distance from a car that had been parked askew across the road.

Dudley had been released April 11 from electronic tether related to a drug charge, Sheriff Robert J. Pickell said Tuesday morning (June 3, 2008).

A woman who said she lives at the complex said she heard about nine shots fired when Dudley was killed and saw several people running near the back of the complex.

"It's getting rough out here," said the woman, who declined to give her name.

Ladean Akins, a cousin of Dudley's, said she and other family members don't know why he was shot but called the slaying "cold-blooded."

"It was a nonsense killing," said Akins, adding she didn't believe it was connected to Dudley's father becoming police chief.

Richard Dicks declined to comment on the shooting Monday evening.

Police spent hours at the scene Monday afternoon and no arrests had been announced.

Emotions ran high at the shooting scene, where a large fight broke out among people who knew the victim.

A man took offense at the word "snitch" and shortly afterward more words were exchanged. Then, a melee broke out as several men started throwing punches and kicking at one another.

The fight lasted only about a minute before other bystanders and police separated the men and got the situation under control without any arrests.

Police spent hours at the scene but had not announced that anyone was in custody as of Monday night.

Instead of congratulating David Dicks on his new role, city officials spent the day offering condolences.

"I just can't believe the day he gets appointed, then this happens. It's very tragic," said Flint City Councilman Sandy Hill.

Flint Police Officers Association Keith Speer also sent his condolences to the Dicks family.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with David and his family," said Speer.

Anyone with any information about the slaying is asked to call, Sgt. Lee Ann Gaspar at (810) 237-6925 or crimestoppers at (800) 422-JAIL.

Staff writers Joe Lawlor, Jiquanda Johnson and Dana DeFever contributed to this report.

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Jaquan S. Dudley was killed on the day his father and grandfather were named to lead Flint police.

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