Removal of Paquin as Police Chief To Be Reviewed by Tribal Board

The removal last Friday of the tribal police chief by Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment was to be reviewed by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors at a special meeting called for Tuesday, November 13, at 4 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie.

Mr. Payment announced Friday, November 9, he was removing Police Chief Fred Paquin from his post owing to pending charges of assault or assault and battery filed by a woman earlier this year.

Several board members have told The St. Ignace News they view Mr. Payment's action as part of an ongoing attempt to discredit Mr. Paquin and that the tribal chairman does not have the authority to remove another tribal executive. Such action, they said, must be taken by the full board.

Mr. Paquin, of St. Ignace, who is also a tribal board representative for Unit 3, was named chairman of the tribe's Greektown Casino board August 10 by the casino board, replacing Mr. Payment, who challenged the surprise move. The decision was affirmed by the full tribal board August 21 in an 8- 3 vote.

Mr. Paquin called last Friday's ouster "political retribution" for the August coup.

A pre-trial hearing on the misdemeanor assault charges was held Friday, November 9.