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This January 2026 OIR Group report reviews misconduct allegations involving Superior Police Department member Michelle Pope. The report identifies Pope as the subject employee. It says the allegations came from former Investigator Mikayla LeRette during 2025. The document appears as Exhibit 527 in LeRette’s federal case against the City of Superior.
The report was prepared by independent investigators Michael Gennaco and Stephen Connolly. Its cover page lists OIR Group and shows the investigation title: “Independent Investigation into Allegations of Misconduct Involving Superior Police Department Member Michelle Pope.”
A Timeline of Pregnancy, Discipline, and Surveillance
The report tracks events from November 2022 through March 2025. It begins with LeRette’s return from maternity leave, her light-duty assignment, and her search for lactation space. It then follows productivity concerns, task force reassignment, GPS tracking, administrative leave, a written warning, and later retaliation allegations.
The timeline is important. It shows how a workplace accommodation issue grew into discipline, public-records conflict, and federal litigation. Captain Tom Champaigne placed a GPS tracker on LeRette’s work vehicle in early 2024. Captain Jeff Harriman later raised concerns with Assistant Chief John Kiel, City Attorney Frog Prell, and Human Resources Director Cammi Janigo.
Allegations Against Michelle Pope
LeRette alleged that Pope imposed unequal scheduling rules, tried to force her from narcotics during pregnancy, restricted flexible scheduling, mishandled light duty, questioned medical information, failed to address lactation space concerns, and refused to approve overtime or time-off requests. The report also discusses a November 8, 2022 encounter where LeRette said Pope yelled at her.
The investigators examined Superior Police Department policies on conduct, ethics, favoritism, performance, retaliation, anti-harassment, and reasonable accommodation. They also referenced the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Wisconsin Fair Employment Act.
Findings That Favor Management
The report repeatedly rejects LeRette’s allegations against Pope. It marks the narcotics pregnancy-removal claim as “Unfounded.” It also finds the yelling allegation unsupported. The medical-questioning claim receives the same result. The lactation-space claim against Pope also ends as “Unfounded.”
One scheduling claim receives a different label. The report says Pope and Champaigne imposed a unique monthly schedule requirement on LeRette. Yet it labels that issue “Exonerated,” because investigators found the requirement tied to LeRette’s changing schedule.
The report reads like an institutional defense with investigative polish. It does not erase the public concern. Taxpayers still deserve to know why pregnancy, lactation, task force work, discipline, and GPS tracking became tangled inside one small police department.
Superior Police Department official page — official department information.
Superior Police Department staff directory — lists department leadership, including Michelle Pope.
Frog Prell, City Attorney directory page — link for Frog Prell references.
OIR Group people page — background on Michael Gennaco and Stephen Connolly.
U.S. Department of Labor Pump at Work guidance — federal guidance on lactation space requirements.
Download Document
Legal Disclaimer
This post summarizes a public-record court exhibit for government accountability and public-interest reporting. Allegations, findings, denials, and investigative conclusions remain part of an ongoing legal and public record. This summary does not provide legal advice, does not determine liability, and should not be read as a final finding of fact.
