Two Detroit police officers tied to last fall’s controversial traffic-stop shooting have quietly cut “last chance” deals that keep them on the force while sidelining them without pay, according to new reporting. One of those officers, Zachary Melvin, is still under investigation after the Oct. 26, 2025, stop that left motorist Tracey Allen wounded and later sparked a $25 million federal lawsuit. The agreements – often used in workplace misconduct or rehab scenarios – are now fueling fresh questions about who signs off on police discipline and whether the public will ever get a full accounting.
Per The Detroit News, the pacts were reached last month and let Melvin serve a 60-day unpaid suspension while a second, unnamed officer serves 45 days. Both had already been off the payroll during the department’s investigation and are expected to return to duty in May. The paper reports that it is not clear who approved the agreements, and Chief Todd Bettison declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Former Police Chief James Craig told the outlet he had used last-chance agreements in some workplace cases but said he would not use them for officers facing criminal charges.
What happened during the traffic stop
On Oct. 26, 2025, officers pulled Allen over on Eight Mile Road for alleged window tint and an obscured license plate, and the situation escalated fast, CBS Detroit reports. Court filings and police statements say officers pepper-sprayed Allen, boxed her in her vehicle as she tried to drive off, and Melvin opened fire, hitting her six times in her arms and legs. Allen filed a federal lawsuit in February, accusing Melvin and the city of using excessive and unconstitutional force and seeking $25 million in damages.
Board oversight and records
City records show the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners signed off in November 2025 on Bettison’s request to change the officers’ duty status. Commissioners later pressed the department for a list of all last-chance agreements from the past decade. Spectrum News reported on the November vote, and draft board minutes obtained from the city show at least one commissioner asked for dates and signatories on every pact, signaling a push for tighter oversight. The mix of an internal review, board scrutiny, and a high-profile civil suit has put pressure on city leaders to explain both the discipline itself and how well the department tracks these deals.
Legal stakes and prosecutor review
A warrant request has been sent to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether a crime was committed, and Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller has said the case is still under review, The Detroit News reports. Allen’s federal complaint, filed in February, lays out allegations of excessive and unconstitutional force, and CBS Detroit notes that both Melvin and the city are named as defendants. Prosecutors have not announced any charging decisions, and with criminal, civil, and internal administrative processes all moving in parallel, an outcome could still be a long way off.
Community reaction
Allen’s attorney and police accountability advocates say the agreements look like a step back on discipline in serious use-of-force cases. At a February press conference, attorney Maurice Davis called the shooting unjustified and pushed for the release of body-worn camera footage. Local coverage captured activists’ frustration that the pacts allow officers to avoid termination in a high-profile incident, FOX 2 Detroit reported. Earlier this year, Hoodline detailed how Allen demands justice with a $25M suit and highlighted community calls for transparency and clearer records on police discipline…