If you’re “just somebody,” expect more punishment; if you’re the deputy fire chief, expect probation.
There’s nothing subtle about what just went down in Kalamazoo County: Michael Dyer, 63-year-old deputy fire chief of Comstock Township, struck an 11-year-old child while driving under the influence. He blew nearly double the legal limit. The child needed surgery, ongoing therapy, physical, emotional trauma.
Yet what’s the recommended outcome? No jail time. Probation. The Kalamazoo County prosecuting attorney’s office, under Jeffrey Getting, is backing it.
Except that’s not the outcome an average person would get. If history is any indication, such as the case of Michael Carroll, former Portage City Manager, power has one again, come into play at sentencing.
Why This Doesn’t Fly for “Regular People”
Let’s be crystal clear:
- High BAC + serious injury? That’s serious felony territory. Many people, no law degree, no public office, no local prestige, no fancy title, would be staring at jail time for much less.
- First-offense argument? Maybe. But “first offense” doesn’t magically erase accountability when a kid is injured, and it often doesn’t make a difference for others.
- “Victim input”? Yes, Getting’s office says it consulted the victim’s family and they “expressed they were happy with the outcome” but that’s not at all true.
- Restitution + conditions will be part of the deal, but they’re no substitute for jail when public safety and deterrence are on the line.
Parker-Carter says she pushed for Dyer to receive jail time.
“It’s not justice for me,” she said. “He’s still out. Like, that’s not justice. He still can go pick up a liquor bottle.”
Jeff Getting, to be kind, is being intellectually dishonest in his statements about consulting with the family, as other family members also say they are angry.
It’s also very much a repeat of what happened with Michael Carroll, as Dyer will also keep his job.
In short: if Dyer were Joe or Jane Citizen, it’s almost inconceivable they’d walk this lightly. The optics are glaring.
The Pattern: Getting’s Office Seems Gentle on the Powerful
This isn’t the first time people have whispered (or shouted) about preferential treatment in Kalamazoo’s prosecutor’s office under Jeff Getting:
- People in local sub-reddits express frustration with perceived leniency. One thread accuses Getting of going easy “on folks with connections or clout.”
- The Dyer case itself demonstrates how someone in public authority, sworn to protect, can be treated differently. When you combine the status of a “deputy fire chief” with plausible pluses like community standing, local relationships, goodwill in government, it’s easier to get favorable charging or sentencing recommendations.
- And while I found no formal audit or oversight report proving a pattern of favoritism, the appearance is strong and in criminal justice, optics matter.
Justice is supposed to be blind. But when one person gets probation for hitting a child while drunk, and another (less connected) person gets jail time for lesser offenses — the scales tip.
What This Tells Us About Justice Locally
- Power buys soft landings. If you hold office or authority, the system bends.
- Trust erodes for everyone else. When citizens see differential treatment, faith in the law breaks down.
- Victims get shortchanged. La’Shae Parker will live with this injury but is the system giving her family the accountability they deserve?
- We need public scrutiny. Prosecutorial decisions should be transparent. We must demand accountability, not just in rhetoric but via oversight, civic pressure, and the ballot box.
The bottom line for me, is this: if we’re extending grace and mercy to powerful leaders, then everyone in Kalamazoo should be prepared to do the same for regular, everyday people.
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