New Detroit police chief: Mayor Mike Duggan selects Todd Bettison
Detroit mayor names his pick for next police chief
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan named his preferred candidate for the city's next police chief. While it is city council that makes the final decision, Bettison has already served in the position as interim chief for months.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Mayor Mike Duggan has selected Todd Bettison to be the next chief of the Detroit Police Department.
A nationwide search for the next police chief was launched last year after James White left the department to lead the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. Since his departure, Bettison has been serving as interim chief.
At a meeting last month, the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) interviewed five candidates before providing Duggan with three candidates to pick from - Bettison, Joel Fitzgerald, and Joshua Wallace.
After watching Bettison lead the department over the past three months and interviewing the three candidates, Duggan decided Bettison would be the best fit.
Meet the police chief candidates
Bettison spent 27 years with the Detroit Police Department, where he was second in command under White. He was then appointed deputy mayor of Detroit. While in that role, he spearheaded the city's violence prevention program.
His education includes a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Wayne State University, as well as a graduate business certificate. He has also completed several certificate programs at Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University.
Todd Bettison named interim chief of Detroit police as James White leaves department
Detroit's Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison will lead the police department until a permanent chief is hired, Mayor Mike Duggan announced Friday. Chief James White is leaving to run the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN).
Fitzgerald started his police career as an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department in the early 1990s. He has held the role of police chief with five different departments over a 15-year span. When speaking to the board, he said he was the first Black police chief at each of those departments.
He holds a Ph.D. from Northcentral University, as well as a master's degree from Eastern University, both in business administration. He also attended Villanova University for his bachelor's degree.
Wallace has been with the Chicago Police Department for 25 years and has held a supervisor role for 12 years. He is currently the commander of the bureau of counterterrorism, and has 1,100 officers who work under him. In that role, he recently was the intelligence branch commander for the Democratic National Convention.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Calumet College of St. Joseph in law enforcement management, along with a master's degree in administration of justice and security from the University of Phoenix. In addition to his formal schooling, he has attended several law enforcement courses, including the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff & Command and FBI National Academy.
What's next:
The Detroit City Council will have 30 days to vote on the choice.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Jan. 30 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting, the FBI-LEEDA website, and previous FOX 2 reporting.