Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard is “shocked and appalled” by Judge William McConico’s bond reduction for one of three allegedly involved in an ambush murder of a Deputy Bradley Reckling.

“Some judges just don’t seem to care about the victims or safety,” the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office posted to X on Saturday, along with a statement from Bouchard.

Some judges just don’t seem to care about the victims or safety.  pic.twitter.com/dBs834jrSy

— Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (@oaklandsheriff) November 2, 2024

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“I am shocked and appalled at Judge (William) McConico’s ruling that essentially releases a criminal defendant charged in connection with the ambush murder of a dedicated public servant who was heroically killed in the line of duty, for a mere $10,000,” Bouchard said. “This ruling puts the public’s safety at risk and is a slap in the face to Brad’s family, who have suffered an unimaginable loss.”

Reckling, 30, was following a stolen vehicle from Oakland County to Detroit on June 22 when the driver suddenly stopped near Park Grove and Schoenherr, where three teens exited the car and fired at Reckling before fleeing on foot.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said last week Reckling “thought he was simply recovering a stolen car” but got “pulled into what turned out to be a violent and far-reaching car-theft and carjacking criminal enterprise,” the Detroit Free Press reports.

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The criminal investigation involving police from Detroit, Oakland County, Troy and the Michigan State Police found “an alleged continuing criminal enterprise, including at least four carjackings, four additional stolen vehicles, and eight counts of weapons being carried in vehicles, all spanning Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties,” Worthy said.

The investigation resulted in charges against three 18-year-olds. Raymone Raylee Debose was charged with murder of a police officer and carjacking, both potential life sentences, in addition to the same charges as the other two defendants.

Marquis Lamar Goins and Karim Blake Moore were both charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle, multiple counts of carrying a concealed weapon, and multiple counts of felony firearm possession. The criminal enterprise charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the gun charges carry a potential sentence of two to five years.

The teens were arraigned on Wednesday in the 36^th District Court, where Debose was remanded and Goins received a $1 million cash bond. Moore initially received a $250,000 cash bond, but McConico, the chief judge, reduced the bond to 10% of $100,000, or $10,000, CBS News reports.

The bond reduction, Bouchard said, “demonstrates an utter lack of respect for the law enforcement community who risk their lives every day protecting our residents and undermines community confidence in the justice system.

“Looking at some of his past decisions, it appears to be a dangerous pattern, and it makes you wonder if he looks at the facts at all,” Bouchard said of McConico.

McConico was initially appointed to Michigan’s busiest court by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2010, after serving in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 representing parts of Detroit, as well as Highland Park and Hamtramck.

McConico, who was appointed chief judge for the 36^th District Court by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2019, defended his decision to reduce Moore’s bond in an interview with WJBK.

“Who is charged and who may be charged in that case will be treated differently at each stage, as well as if they go to trial they will be treated differently,” McConico said. “Just because one is convicted of one thing, or one has the culpability, they are not going to be treated the same because they don’t have the same alleged role in the crime.”

He also complained about Bouchard’s comments about the bond reduction to the media.

“I understand Sheriff Bouchard’s point of view,” he said. “I would prefer him not to make attacks on me. His attacks were personal.”

Bouchard stood firm in his view that the bail was “preposterous,” WJBK reports.

“The ambush murder of a police officer, committing a host of other felonies, for them to be able to get out for $10,000 is just a slap in the face to the process and especially to the family and friends and the community of this fallen deputy,” he said.

McConico “appears to really not care when people are dangerous and they’re shooting or even killing police officers,” Bouchard said.

Reckling, a nine-year veteran, left behind three kids – five, four, and one – and a pregnant wife.