Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield retains Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison

• Newly elected Mayor Mary Sheffield reappoints Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison.
• Bettison has served in regulation enforcement for almost thirty years.
• Bettison took on the function of interim chief in 2024 and was formally appointed in 2025 below Mayor Mike Duggan.

Detroit Mayor and Metropolis Council President-elect Mary Sheffield promised to maintain Detroit’s police chief in her administration, and he or she stored that promise.

Sheffield introduced on Tuesday, December 16, that she would maintain Chief Todd Bettison in his function to steer the Detroit Police Division, a promise she made earlier than the election. Bettison has served in regulation enforcement for almost thirty years. In recent times, Detroit has seen a decline in violent crimes. Murder charges have reached historic lows in latest many years, nonfatal shootings have halved between 2022 and 2024 and automobile thefts have dropped considerably over the previous decade, by 71%, town stated.

“There may be nothing extra vital to the group and to me as mayor than enhancing public security,” Sheffield stated in a press release. “It’s uncommon to have a chief who has the respect of his colleagues, the loyalty of the rank and file, and the hearts and belief of the individuals. That’s precisely what we’ve got with Chief Bettison, who brings almost three many years of service to our nice metropolis as a member of the Detroit Police Division.”

Bettison beforehand served because the division’s first assistant chief earlier than Mayor Mike Duggan named him his deputy mayor in Could 2022. Duggan named him interim police chief in October 2024 when former Chief James White left the division, and formally really useful that the Detroit Metropolis Council approve Bettison as Detroit’s police chief earlier this 12 months, which they did.

He targeted closely on advancing group violence intervention initiatives, together with the “ShotStopper” program to cut back gun violence in Detroit’s most violent neighborhoods. Bettison stated he’s honored to proceed serving.

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“Throughout my time as Chief, I’ve had the pleasure of working hand-in-hand with our newly elected Mayor to maintain the residents of Detroit secure. Over the previous 12 months, the Detroit Police Division has witnessed violent crime proceed to plummet to historic lows throughout town – and I’m assured that we are going to exit 2025 with much more traditionally low ranges of violent crime. My objective for town within the coming years is to proceed our efforts to cut back crime whereas making certain general public security for all of our neighborhoods. I’m happy that Mrs. Mayor Sheffield is giving me one other alternative to proceed working to make Detroit one of many most secure cities in America and I do know that together with her steering and assist, this objective will turn into a actuality,” Bettison stated in a press release.

Sheffield introduced Monday that her Metropolis Council chief of employees, Brian White, will be part of her administration as deputy mayor. She plans to make extra management bulletins within the coming weeks. Vacancies are posted on-line via her Rise higher Detroit transition committee.

Dana Afana is the Detroit metropolis corridor reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Observe her: @DanaAfana.