They call them Gypsy Cops

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Police officers and sheriff's deputies are paid to keep you and your family safe.

But a Newschannel 3 investigation has exposed a big problem in law enforcement: Shoddy, incomplete background checks when your city or county hires an officer.

They wear a badge and pack a gun, so you'd think officers of the law who want to leave a department and go to another would have to go through an extensive background process to get a job.

After months of research we've found that's not necessarily the case. In fact some departments are so scared of a lawsuit many employers are left to wonder if an officer truly is leaving in good standing.

Balis. Type that name into the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. He's living on the east side of the state. But its what Balis did over here on the west side in uniform that many would like to forget.

"Human nature being what it is, people go astray. Could some of it been prevented? I think so, I think so," said Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis.

Brandon Balis did go astray. He was charged and convicted of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct in 2002. He's no longer in law enforcement. Balis admitted to having sex on the job as a deputy with a high school student on a ride-along program. He's now a sex offender.

"No administrator wants a bad cop, nobody," said Sheriff Dennis.

In the aftermath Ionia County was sued by Balis's victim, costing taxpayers there tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

"We're spending much more money on background investigations today then we ever have, and we're finding out that its good bucks. Good bang for your bucks to spend that money up front rather than defend a lawsuit than we have with Mister Balis," said Sheriff Dennis.

Balis began to have problems just seven months into his employment in Ionia County. He was disciplined internally for alleged sexual harassment of employees inside the department.

With the numerous problems, Sheriff Dennis now wonders whether Balis's former employer, the City of South Lyon Police Department near Detroit, gave a true picture of the guy he hired.

"Because we all know what a phone call can get us. Yeah he was an excellent employee, that's the guy you want to hire. Cause I want to get rid of him, and that's what we have to do to get rid of it," said Sheriff Dennis.

Documents Newschannel 3 obtained under the Freedom of Information Act indicate the City of South Lyon did provide some documentation to Ionia County on Balis and answered some questions about him. But in response to questions from Newschannel 3, South Lyon Lt. Steve Sharpe admitted his department won't provide an open book to a prospective employer.

It is often because of confidentiality or separation agreements. He told us that for departments to get the information, quote "the right questions have to be asked."

It's not just Balis. We tracked numerous officers or deputies who've been in trouble with the law and later had licenses revoked. Documents obtained from the state indicate at least a dozen of those officers worked at a minimum of three different agencies in a short period of time, getting job after job, perhaps slipping through the system.

To those in law enforcement they're called gypsy cops. They are an indication that chiefs likely aren't talking with chiefs in the hiring process.

"Many times you'll find there are officers who run into problems at one job and will jump to another and we want a very thorough job to make sure we don't end up picking up someone else's bad apple," said Chief Kevin Belk of the GRPD.

Grand Rapids Chief Kevin Belk and many others in law enforcement admit the background checks being done aren't complete or somethimes, even done at all.

State lawmakers are beginning to notice.

"A law enforcement officer is the only one who can legitimately take a person's life in the state of Michigan," said State Representative Mike Nofs. Nofs, a former Michigan State Police Post Commander, is frustrated and says changes need to be made.

"That's the stuff we really should be able to get at. More specific questions you can answer, as a former employer, they should be able to answer those questions honestly and give the correct answers," said Nofs.

"If police don't police themselves, then who's going to do it," asked Sheriff Dennis.