DETROIT (WWJ) — Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison is one step closer to becoming the city’s full-time chief.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday recommended Bettison become the permanent police chief after conducting interviews with the top three candidates chosen by the Board of Police Commissioners.
The other two candidates are Joel Fitzgerald — former chief of police and emergency management with Denver’s Regional Transportation District — and Joshua Wallace, commander of Chicago’s Criminal Network Group.
The Detroit City Council now has 30 days to vote on Duggan’s recommendation to appoint Bettison, who the mayor praised for his leadership skills. WWJ Newsradio 950’s Jon Hewett reported the council’s approval could come as soon as next week.
“We had a chance to evaluate acting Chief Bettison in his job for three months now. There is an outstanding leadership team at the Detroit Police Department. You didn’t see anybody bolting for other places; That team stayed unified behind him and they continued to do an excellent job,” Duggan said Monday in front of the city council.
Bettison, a long time member of the Police Department, expressed his gratitude for the mayor’s endorsement.
“For your confidence in allowing me to continue to serve this great city, the greatest city in America, which is Detroit city, I say ‘thank you, Mayor Duggan,’” he said. “I talked about my certificate at the Ilitch School of Business. But Mayor Duggan recruited me to be his deputy mayor and put me in the ‘Michael E. Duggan School of Business.’”
Bettison had been serving as Duggan’s deputy mayor from 2021 until November when he took over for departing Detroit Police Chief James White, who accepted an offer to become the CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrate Health Network, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping people with mental health issues.
Prior to becoming deputy mayor, Bettison spent 27 years in multiple roles at DPD, ultimately retiring as 1st Assistant Chief — the department’s second-highest ranking member — to transition to his new role in Duggan's office.