Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison Named Interim Detroit Police Chief

Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison will take over as the city’s top cop when Police Chief James White leaves next month, the city announced Friday.

White was selected as the new CEO of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network earlier this month. His last day as Detroit’s leader is Nov. 10, the city said.

Bettison, a 27-year Detroit police veteran, held back tears as he first thanked God and his wife for the opportunity to serve as interim chief. It’s an opportunity he says he wants to preserve.

“I’m definitely here to compete,” Bettison said at a news conference, drawing loud applause from a large crowd of city and police officials and members of the public at Detroit’s public safety headquarters.

Bettison continued, and louder applause followed: “I really want to lead the Detroit Police Department.”

And he says he’s the best guy for the job.

Bettison was White’s deputy before becoming deputy mayor in 2022.

City officials describe him as “one of the fastest-growing members” of the Detroit Police Department. He began his career as a patrol officer in 1994 and rose to sergeant within five years and to lieutenant a year later. The promotions continued, with Bettison eventually rising to inspector, captain, commander, deputy chief and eventually first assistant chief in 2021, the city said.

Bettison reported the city’s disclosure statements that he lives in Farmington Hills, according to July report from the Detroit Free Press. He has mostly avoided controversy since withdrew from the competition in 2007 for drunk driving and crashing a patrol car.

Bettison said Friday that when he walked into public safety headquarters for the announcement, he felt like he was coming home.

Regarding his position as Deputy Mayor, biography of the city as Bettison describes him as someone who “serves as a bridge to community leaders and activists across the political spectrum” and oversees numerous departments. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said Bettison is “more than qualified for the job” and is respected for his leadership, stewardship and strong ties to the community.

Bettison leads the city’s ShotStopper program, which aims to reduce gun violence in Detroit’s most violent neighborhoods. This community program has been largely successful, according to the city. Bettison has been working with community violence groups that participate in the program for more than a decade, according to city officials. He praised these groups during the press conference.

On Friday, city officials and community members applauded Bettison’s leadership and celebrated his new role. Darryl Woods Jr., chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, said Bettison was a “strong choice.” Duggan joked that Bettison must have a lot of friends judging by the size of the crowd in the room. And community leaders spoke about how Bettison builds trust and invests in people.

Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy of CVI Force Detroit reached out to Bettison. “I trust you,” he said. “It wasn’t easy. You deserve it.”

According to the city charter, the Board of Police Commissioners will search nationally for White’s permanent replacement. Woods Jr. called the process a “sacred duty” and said the search has already begun.

“We’ll see if there’s anyone better,” he said of Bettison.

After the search, the board will recommend three candidates to Duggan, who will then recommend one of those candidates to the City Council.

Duggan said he hopes Detroit will have a new leader in place within the next 60 to 90 days.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice issues for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @andreamsahouri.