Echoing Lowell. The protracted investigation of McNamara resulted in one conviction of a high ranking aide who had been persuaded to take a bribe from a sleazy contractor, and one plea to a misdemeanor by a former reporter who worked for McNamara and had illegally used a County computer to prepare a political mailing, thus violating the rule against using government assets on overt electoral politics. Truly a paltry showing for the years of effort and resources put into it be the feds.
McNamara was a skilled politician who won elections and accomplished quite a bit for the County. He also tolerated political favoritism for friends, and some folks were paid far above their value to the public. He hired Bernard Kilpatrick when BK was Chair of the Wayne County Commission, but had no illusions about , shalll we say, BK's weakness in the area of ethical judgment.
Painting McNamara , and anyone he appointed, as corrupt is simply not accurate,just as painting every Kilpatrick appointee as a crook is not accurate . There are good people who worked for Kilpatrick who have been badly damaged by their association with him, and others who , one may presume, are quietly mortified that they will forever be known as a former appointee of Kilpatrick.
Bob Ficano has his own rteam and his own program going. Don't confuse him with McNamara. Accurate analysis requires that one appreciate history, complexity, nuance, and politics and have knowledge of the individuals involved.