LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Lansing’s fire chief has resigned after 16 months in the position and just days after a racial discrimination lawsuit was filed by multiple Black current and former city employees.
Michael Mackey formally gave his notice via email on Friday and said his resignation was unrelated to the lawsuit that was filed last week Wednesday, according to the Lansing State Journal.
In his resignation email provided by the city, Mackey says he is returning to Florida to be with family and pursue other professional opportunities.
“I’m leaving for personal reasons,” Mackey said. “If you look at the lawsuit, I’m not part of the lawsuit.”
The Ingham County Circuit Court lawsuit lists Lansing’s Mayor Andy Schor, Deputy Mayor Samantha Harkins, chapter Local 421 of International Association of Fire Fighters, and former local fire union President Eric Weber as defendants.
The suit does not name Mackey as a defendant.
The circuit court lawsuit is the latest of several high-profile lawsuits involving Lansing’s fire department over racial mistreatment within the city.
Schor said the city would begin searching “immediately” for a new chief. The city has not yet released information about who might lead the department on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.
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