Laura Frizzo
Laura Frizzo is an American police officer.[1] She was hired by the Iron River Police Department in 1995, and then City Manager [[]] appointed her Police Chief in 2013.[2] She was the first female Chief of Police in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
In 2014 she was Chief of Police of the Iron River, Michigan police department, where she was the lead investigator who found the evidence that lead to the conviction of Kelly Cochran, for multiple murders.[1]
Frizzo was featured in a documentary about the case, entitled "Dead North", and was intervieweed by Megyn Kelly on her nationwide TV show Megyn Kelly Today.[3]
In 2016 Frizzo was terminated by Iron River.[3] Her firing triggered criticism of City Manager David Thayer, and calls for his dismissal.[4] Thayer had required Frizzo to submit a doctor's report she was fit enough to return to work, after a brief medical leave.[5] However, when Frizzo submitted a report clearing her to return to her duties, Thayer said he wanted a second opinion, from a doctor he chose. A month later he scheduled an appointment with his choice of doctor. When the second doctor cleared Frizzo to retuen to duty, Thayer terminated her.
Under the Iron River city charter all hiring and firing decisions of non-union staff are at the sole discretion of the City Manager. Frizzo sued, for wrongful dismissal, citing, in part, sexist comments others had heard him make about her.[6]
Her lawsuit yielded a decision to support Thayer, and the city.[7] When Frizzo appealed that decision, on evidentiary grounds, the court of appeal stated decisions were not overturned on evidentiary grounds.
In 2017 Frizzo provided several days of testimony at Cochran's trial.[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 M. William Phelps (2020-02-20). Where Monsters Hide: Sex, Murder, and Madness in the Midwest. Pinnacle Books. ISBN 9780786044740.
- ↑ Brian Christensen (2018-12-22). "Frizzo lawsuit decided: Jury rules against fired Iron River police chief". Iron Mountain Daily News (Crystal Falls, Michigan). Archived from the original on 2022-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20220925034907/https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2018/12/frizzo-lawsuit-decided/. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "Frizzo was hired as an Iron River police officer in 1995 and appointed by former city manager Perry Franzoi as police chief in 2013, the first female to hold that position for an Upper Peninsula city."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brian Christensen (2018-12-13). "Frizzo: ‘It’s kind of like a bad dream’". Iron Mountain Daily News (Crystal Falls, Michigan). Archived from the original on 2018-12-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20181213235023/https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2018/12/frizzo-its-kind-of-like-a-bad-dream/. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "Under questioning by her attorney, Brian Keck, Frizzo detailed the damage the termination did to her life. She said she could not pay her bills and was forced to move to Indiana for work, adding tearfully that she missed much of two years with her son."
- ↑ Nikki Younk (2016-12-22). "Iron River police chief firing draws strong reaction". Iron Mountain Daily News (Iron River, Michigan). Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128030140/https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2016/12/iron-river%E2%80%88police-chief-firing-draws-strong-reaction/. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "Per the Iron River city charter, the city manager can hire and fire non-union employees such as the police chief, while the city council only has hiring and firing authority over the city manager."
- ↑ Monique Lopez (2016-12-12). "Iron River Police Chief fired by City Manager". WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210922183732/https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/Iron-River-Police-Chief-fired-by-City-Manager-406017365.html. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "On September 23, she advised the city manager that she was able to return to work on September 28. He responded by setting a meeting with her for October 4 and required a return to work doctor's report."
- ↑ Nikki Younk (2017-03-09). "Frizzo sues city officials". Iron Mountain Daily News (Iron River, Michigan). Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20190422033211/https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2017/03/frizzo-sues-city-officials/. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
- ↑ "Former Iron River Police Chief’s court appeal is denied". WLUC-TV (Lansing, Michigan). 2021-02-19. https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2021/02/19/former-iron-river-police-chiefs-court-appeal-is-denied/. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
- ↑ Monique Lopez (2017-02-17). "Laura Frizzo testifies in Kelly Cochran murder trial". WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on 2018-07-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712154148/http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/Laura-Frizzo-testifies-in-Kelly-Cochran-murder-trial-414130713.html. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "During her first interview with the Cochrans, Frizzo testified that many details Kelly Cochran was giving about her last encounter with Regan weren't adding up."
- ↑ "Former police chief testifies at Cochran trial". ABC 10 News. 2017-02-17. https://abc10up.com/2017/02/17/laura-frizzo-testifies-at-cochran-trial/. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "Frizzo says the investigation eventually led her to the alleged murderer, Kelly Cochran. The former Iron River Police Chief heard Regan was having an affair with Cochran and that he had directions to her house."
- ↑ "Laura Frizzo’s testimony continues at murder trial". ABC 10 News. 2017-02-20. https://abc10up.com/2017/02/20/laura-frizzos-testimony-continues-at-murder-trial/. Retrieved 2022-09-24. "In her second day testifying, former Iron River Police Chief Laura Frizzo described the change in appearance she saw in alleged murderer Kelly Cochran, as Frizzo continued to investigate the murder of Chris Regan."
