Greg O'Dell says leaving U-M police to return to EMU strictly a personal decision
Previous story: New U-M police chief will return to head EMU's public safety department - for less pay
When the opportunity to return to a job and university that he loved arose, Greg O’Dell said he simply couldn’t refuse the chance.
Eastern Michigan University announced O’Dell was returning to the EMU Department of Public Safety as its chief of police Wednesday after a few months holding the same position with the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety.
In an interview with AnnArbor.com, O’Dell said he couldn’t turn down the unique opportunity to return to the job he originally began in February 2008.
Greg O'Dell
"Given where I’m at in my career, I think returning to Eastern is the best decision for me to make at this point.”
O’Dell was appointed to become the new police chief at the U-M Department of Public Safety during the summer, replacing Ken Magee who had resigned from the department in November 2010 after a 12-month sick leave. O’Dell spent three-and-a-half years at EMU following a lengthy tenure with the Ann Arbor Police Department.
The second stint as EMU’s police chief will pay O’Dell about $50,000 less than he earned as police chief position at Michigan — and about $20,000 less than he earned in his first tenure at Eastern Michigan.
However, O’Dell, said working in law enforcement has never been about the money.
He said he understood many people might not understand why he would leave a job that paid him tens of thousands of dollars more per year, but it made sense to him. The money the university is saving on paying him could ultimately go to other members of EMU’s Public Safety Department, O’Dell said.
“I feel I’m very well compensated at the current salary rate and one of the things I talked to President (Susan) Martin about in conversation about the reduced salary was being able to hopefully enhance some of the other members of the department’s salary (with the extra money),” he said.
When speaking with AnnArbor.com on Wednesday, O’Dell emphasized several times that he had nothing but positive things to say about his time at the University of Michigan.
O’Dell said the only job he would have left Eastern Michigan for was the police chief position at Michigan, but, during his time in Ann Arbor, he found himself speaking consistently about things he had done at EMU.
After a few months, O’Dell said he realized he had so much invested in Eastern Michigan University.
“I don’t think I can stress enough there’s not a downside to Michigan,” he said. “I can’t sit here and tell you any bad things about the Michigan position.”
Where the U-M Department of Public Safety will go from this point isn’t clear, according to university spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald.
Deputy Police Chief Joe Piersante was appointed interim police chief on Wednesday and the university is considering how to conduct its search for the next permanent police chief, Fitzgerald said.
“We haven’t even gotten to that point yet,” Fitzgerald said. “This literally just came together pretty quickly.”
In the meantime, O’Dell is hoping the attention on him after this announcement fades away relatively quickly and goes back to the people doing the day-to-day police work.
“I hate to be a distraction like this,” he said. “I want people to concentrate on the work the agencies are doing (providing) police work and safety for their communities.”
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
gofigure
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
At least he wasn't in the A2 position long enough to get a pension.
johnnya2
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.
AnnArbor.com, your comment guidelines say not speculation, yet almost every single person in here is allowed to speculate. Why is it their business why the man made a career decision? You either need to enforce your own guidelines, or just ignore them completely.
SW40
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.
Cash, I think you are correct, sounds like a giant cover-up the depths of which we may never know. I would put this on par with the Kennedy assasination, Roswell Alien landing and Dane Cook's fame in terms of unexplained happenings. I really wonder what sort of person always looks at the obvious and finds the absurd. A man takes a job he ends up not liking, he contacts old job and says hey can I have my old job back, old job says sure why not. Oh man its the conspiracy of the year, what a joke. Not everything in Washtenaw county is a grand mystery for you and the rest of the cynics to solve. Good Luck Mr. O'Dell hopefully you find Cash's approval somewhere down the road
thecompound
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
I'm wondering if maybe he discovered that there is more red-tape or had to stroke too many egos at the U and decided it just wasn't for him. I think, unfortunately, due to the Magee fiasco, anything having to do with the UM police department is looked at with a raised eyebrow.
pawky
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
This certainly doesn't pass the sniff test. We will probably never know the real story here.
YpsiVeteran
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:16 p.m.
HIs statement is as unbelievable as it is diplomatic and politically correct. Instead of passing on the $20K EMU isn't going to pay him in salary to his employees, how about using it to lower tuition to taxpaying residents, or, here's a wild idea, maybe reimburse the city of Ypsilanti for all the fire services EMU gets for free from the city?
aa1940
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
I wonder if he will recieve a large settlement package when he leaves the U. of M.
melk
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
I can't see EMU welcoming him back with open arms. The police officiers and many other employees had to take a pay cut when he received a $20,000 raise and then left for UM. So...in order for him to look like a nice guy he's not taking his original "$20,000" in order to pass the money on to the department. Whatever....
bluecollar
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
O'Dell you Rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
justcurious
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
All of this speculation that something negative must have happened is ridiculous. I know it's hard for a lot of money-driven people to understand how someone can realize that their day- to- day happiness has little to do with that paycheck. All that paycheck does is buy more stuff; stuff that gets a stranglehold on your life. Money doesn't make you get up each day and want to go to work, enjoying what you do and can accomplish does that. Obviously Greg O'Dell knows that. He is a very lucky man to have learned that at his age.
justcurious
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:32 p.m.
"O'Dell said the only job he would have left Eastern Michigan for was the police chief position at Michigan, but, during his time in Ann Arbor, he found himself speaking consistently about things he had done at EMU." Perhaps he had more latitude at EMU to do the things that made him feel good about his accomplishments. Maybe he lacked that at Michigan?
trespass
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
That is not what people are questioning. They are questioning what it was about the UM job that made him unhappy enough that he would want to return to EMU. His explanation makes no sense.
NewGirl
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
Geoff Larcom, Executive Director of Media Relations: Would you care to comment on this story for us, please? We have a student at EMU, and I'm happy that Mr. O'Dell is back at EMU.
Kai Petainen
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
"However, O'Dell, said working in law enforcement has never been about the money." He has his head screwed on straight. In business, money is everything -- in life, money is not everything. Best wishes, sad to see you go. "He said he understood many people might not understand why he would leave a job that paid him tens of thousands of dollars more per year, but it made sense to him. " It makes sense to me.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
My real question is not about the money; it's about the short length of service at Michigan.I'm surprised he left so soon. I'm surprised that Michigan didn't convince him to stay. Did he have a contract? If so, why not have him honor it? If not, why not? This really confuses me. I can see it if it's after a year or two and he has settled in and doesn't like the work, but so soon after hiring? This is what makes me wonder what's really going on here.
justcurious
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
Absolutely, it makes perfect sense to me as well. People can read into it whatever they want. He knows what's best for him.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
@ Ciinnabar, when you get here, time to cue up the Porter Wagoner <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLnhghhwSm4" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLnhghhwSm4</a>
cinnabar7071
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
LOL! I liked your response about the sun on the other thread better, but you can't go wrong with Porter Wagoner. Good one.
treetowncartel
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
This in reply to your response, to my other post, in the previous article on this subject, about the grass on the other side of the fence at U of m not being as green as O'Dell thought. Plus it is just a beautiful song. I'm glad I had a chance to see him perform this at the Opry.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:26 p.m.
Are you saying they have better grass in Ypsilanti? I think it was something more then the grass, could be wrong its happened before.
DBH
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Good one, @treetowncartel.
sellers
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
Ken - did he really resign in Nov 2011? "...rom the department in November 2011 after a 12-month sick leave..."
trespass
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
He was immediately relieved of Duty in November 2010 and put on "sick leave" for a year, so his resignation was technically in Nov 2011. His being relieved of duty happened overnight because the he told the Pittsfield Police Chief that he was going to attend an award ceremony for one of his officers and then the next day he was gone (personal communication with Pittsfield police chief). To this day the UM is hiding the reasons why.
Joe Kidd
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7 p.m.
""The complete driving force in making this decision is I just really had an opportunity to return to a job that I loved," O'Dell said. "There wasn't any bad thing about Michigan, I really loved it. I've had a career now where I've worked in four different police agencies and I've loved every agency I've been with. "Given where I'm at in my career, I think returning to Eastern is the best decision for me to make at this point." Makes no sense. Really love it but going to leave it.
DBH
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
Right. And did you catch where the location is of that bridge he has for sale?
pbehjatnia
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
Something is rotten in Denmark. Can't wait to hear the real story.
DBH
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
More than likely, Godot will be delivering the "real story." Whenever he gets here...
trespass
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Judge Judy says "If it doesn't make sense, it isn't true".
Cash
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:46 p.m.
Sorry, but baloney. The "opportunity to have the job that he loved" came about because HE left the job months before! If it was an "opportunity" at EMU, why did he leave a few months ago? Money I assume but now he's offering to take a pay cut? Nope. I would love to know the real scoop. Something is not right here. But, as always, we will never know.
johnnya2
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 2:31 a.m.
Glad to know you have ability to read this man's mind. This is a case of buyers remorse. He liked the EMU job better than the UM job. END OF STORY. Who the hell are you to question him as to why? No matter what his reasons it really is none of your business. He came back with a salary that was LOWER than he previously made. He could have stayed at UM for more money, but made the decision not to. What a horrible person, he made a decision based on HIS happiness. As always you will never know because you think you know more than anybody. Plus, it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. You think anybody who does something that you wouldn't do means there is some ulterior motive. Yes there is an ulterior motive. He likes one job better. Not every person is motivated by money or a higher paycheck. By the way A2.com, as I recall speculation is not allowed on the comment sections, yet you allow Cash to speculate that "Something is not right here. But, as always, we will never know." Nice job off being consistent with your moderation policy.
justcurious
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
One man's "Baloney" is another man's Happy Meal!!