18-02-2025
Detroit City Council votes to appoint Chief Todd Bettison as police department's top cop
The Detroit City Council on Tuesday officially approved Mayor Mike Duggan's appointment of the new police chief.
Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison will ditch the "interim" title to officially lead the Detroit Police Department. Bettison previously served as deputy mayor before Duggan appointed him to temporarily fill the role after former Chief James White left his job to be the CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. Earlier this month, Duggan recommended that the council approve Bettison's appointment.
"I cannot think of a better person to carry on the work of DPD than yourself," City Council President Mary Sheffield told Bettison. "(I am) extremely excited to work with you."
Bettison will receive a salary of $243,152, city records show.
Sheffield asked Bettison — per a question from the public comment segment — about ways to reduce lawsuits and indemnifications hitting the council's table, especially with accidents involving first responder vehicles. Bettison said he met with vendors Monday to discuss technology that would alert the public when a police or other emergency responder vehicle is responding to an incident. He said he anticipates running a pilot program.
"Often times, with technology and with how our cars are so well-insulated, individuals when they're driving, it keeps the sound out. They're playing music, stereos are going, it's hard to hear the siren from a police vehicle or a fire truck or EMS unit," Bettison said. "(We're) looking towards running a pilot program where this technology would actually notify citizens 30 seconds before the emergency vehicle gets there. they're responding on certain vehicles, and with the Waze app, it alerts everyone to know exactly where the first responder vehicle is that's responding."
Bettison added it would also show an alert for first responder vehicles parked on the side of the road through the Waze app and radio system.
"It will interrupt your radio to let you know that a first responder vehicle is approaching in an emergency capacity. It'll be a safety enhancement for the community, for the first responders themselves; reduce accidents, and it's going to reduce costs" Bettison said.
Detroit Is ... Preserving the history of Black police officers in Detroit gives this man ongoing purpose
Councilmember Angela Whitfield-Calloway thanked Bettison for being responsive and pointed to the city council regularly having to deal with lawsuits involving city departments.
"Sometimes we're at fault and sometimes we're not. We still have to settle. And one of the biggest causes is, sometimes the negligence of some of our officers when they're behind the wheel of a car," Whitfield-Calloway said. "Hopefully, it will address the issues that we do have with some police officers not exercising the best care when driving these vehicles."
Bettison told officials that his pilot idea could help prevent accidents, lawsuits, injuries and replacements of vehicles.
"Anytime accident happens, the vehicle has to be replaced, folks are injured, the community sues," Bettison said. "I'm going to look and utilize every opportunity to reduce risk, and also by ensuring that our members are well-trained, and continuing that when something does happen, that they're put in remedial training to really ensure that whatever that deficiency was, that is addressed."
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@ Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit City Council appoints Todd Bettison as new police chief
