LAWSUIT: Former Ferndale Police chief feared 'black man' would become new chief

A retired Ferndale Police lieutenant has launched scathing accusations against the former police chief in a lawsuit, accusing Timothy Collins of not promoting him because he feared it would pave the way for city council to hire an African American as chief of police. William Wilson claims, in his lawsuit, that Collins told him that he had to protect the tradition of the department and not allow city council the possibility of hiring a black man as Chief of Police.