by P.D. Lesko

In 2021, four former EMU students were accused of raping and touching women without consent. Three of the men, Dustyn Durbin, Thomas Hernandez, and D’Angelo McWilliams, a former Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputy, faced criminal charges. That same year, EMU Deputy Chief of Police Daniel Karrick left his job. In 2024, Eastern Michigan University paid $6.85 million to settle federal lawsuits filed by two dozen former and current students who accused the school of mishandling sexual assault complaints. The federal lawsuit named the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents, the school’s police department, Chief of Police Robert Heighes, Deputy Chief Daniel Karrick, the school’s Title IX Director Melody Werner, as well as the local chapters of the Alpha Sigma Phi and Delta Tau Delta fraternities and their national organizations.

In the federal lawsuit, victims alleged: “Sexual assault, both reported and unreported, was so prevalent at EMU, in large part, because EMU’s officials turned a blind eye or were deliberately indifferent to reported sexual assaults.”

One of the alleged serial rapists, D’Angelo McWilliams, was hired by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Dept. in May 2019. In Aug. 2020, McWilliams was charged with multiple sex crimes, and put on unpaid leave. The federal lawsuit alleged that Karrick and McWilliams worked together at the Westland Police Dept.

After retiring from the Westland Police Dept., Karrick was hired by the EMU Police Dept. For this reason, the federal lawsuit claims Karrick protected McWilliams when allegations of the sexual assault of a female EMU student by McWilliams were posted to social media by the boyfriend of the woman who alleged McWilliams had raped her.

The federal lawsuit states that “[A]fter interviewing McWilliams and Hernandez, [EMU Police Dept. Det. McLennan] sought criminal charges against JANE DOE 1’s boyfriend for allegedly publishing posts on social media accusing McWilliams and Hernandez of rape.”

Both McWilliams and Hernandez were subsequently charged with multiple sex crimes by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor.

Karrick left his job with the EMU police in 2021.

In 2025, after his former employer EMU had paid $6.85 million to settle allegations against Karrick (and others) in the Title IX violation federal lawsuit, Kerrick was hired as the new Saline Area Schools Director of Safety and Security, responsible for the safety of the school district’s 4,700 students.

At a March 11, 2025 Saline Area Schools Board of Education meeting, Saline resident Ryan Davidson, who said he knows Karrick, voiced concerns regarding Karrick’s past, including allegations of mishandling the rape allegations which resulted in the Title IX violation lawsuit during Karrick’s tenure at Eastern Michigan University. Davidson’s remarks highlighted a growing unease among parents about the district’s vetting process for key positions, emphasizing the need for transparency and trust in decisions that directly impact student safety.

The newspaper has used the Michigan Freedom of Information Act to obtain Karrick’s job application and the applications of other candidates for the position into which Kerrick was hired.

“Karrick, has a troubling history including his involvement in a Title IX violation case at Eastern Michigan University. Despite this, he was a select for this crucial role overseeing school safety. In addition to the Title IX concerns, his actions during the investigation, specifically his failure to take appropriate action in a case involving his former subordinate, raises questions about his judgment and suitability for a role that should prioritize in safety and well-being of our students,” said Davidson at the school board meeting.

Davidson went on to ask the Board of Education members how Karrick passed the Saline Area Schools background check.

Davidson was then interrupted by a woman in the back of the room who complained he was personally attacking Karrick. School Board President Dr. Michael McVey, a faculty member at EMU, restored order. Davidson continued.

“You hired an individual that had 11 Title IX complaints that he swept under the rug at a public  university. And I don’t understand our background check process or our vetting process that allowed that to go through.And it’s interesting that the HR administrator is also the Titan 9 coordinator and none of this  stuff came up. It’s interesting that the HR Administrator is the IX Coordinator and none of this stuff came up.”

The newspaper contacted Daniel Karrick and Dr. McVey for comments and is awaiting their replies.