Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison to be Detroit’s interim police chief, sources say

Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison will fill in as the city’s top cop when Police Chief James White departs next month, according to sources.

White was selected as Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network’s new CEO earlier this month. His last day as Detroit’s chief is Nov. 8, he told the Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday during its weekly meeting.

Commissioner Ricardo Moore and another official with direct knowledge of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s decision to tap Bettison confirmed with the Free Press he’ll be named. City officials are expected to hold a news conference Friday afternoon.

Bettison had a 27-year career with Detroit police and was second-in-command to White prior to becoming deputy mayor in 2022, according to the city.

He started as a patrol officer in 1994 and within five years was promoted to seargant, the city said, and to lieutenant a year after. The promotions continued: Bettison eventually rose to inspector, captain, commander, and eventually deputy chief in 2017, the city said.

As for his role as deputy mayor, the city’s bio for Bettison describes him as someone who “serves as a bridge to community leaders and activists across the political spectrum.”

He leads the city’s “ShotStopper” program to reduce gun violence in Detroit’s most violent neighborhoods, a community-based program the city says is largely successful. Bettison has worked with the community violence intervention groups that participate in the program for over a decade, the city said.

Bettison reported on city disclosure statements that he lives in Farmington Hills, according to a July report from the Detroit Free Press.

Per city charter, the Board of Police Commissioners will search nationally for White’s permanent replacement. The board will recommend three candidates to Duggan, who will then recommend one of those candidates to city council.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com or on X: @andreamsahouri.