Perkins for the People

Behind the Badge: Detroit’s Police Chief on Strategy, Stats, and Trust

• Attorney Todd Perkins • Season 1 • Episode 9

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In this episode of Perkins for the People, host and attorney Todd Perkins sits down with Detroit Chief of Police Todd Bettison for an in-depth conversation on the city’s evolving approach to public safety.

From his personal journey through law enforcement to the strategies driving Detroit’s recent crime reduction, Chief Bettison shares how community collaboration, data-driven policing, and innovative initiatives are reshaping the narrative around safety in the city. The discussion explores everything from gun safety education and retail crime prevention to the growing role of mental health response in modern policing.

With a focus on transparency, trust, and continuous improvement, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what’s working—and what’s next—for Detroit.

Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply interested in the future of public safety, this conversation highlights how strong partnerships between law enforcement and the community can create lasting change.

Please contact a trusted attorney if you have any questions:

www.perkinslawgroup.net

Follow Attorney Todd Perkins on social media:

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Podcast Episode Chapters

00:00

Chief Todd Medicine's Background and Education

03:26

Support from the Community and Administration

07:45

Collaboration and Crime Reduction Strategies

13:11

Statistics on Crime Reduction

18:17

Preventative Measures and Community Engagement

21:13

Future Plans for Detroit's Safety and Growth

26:03

Combatting Retail Fraud and Porch Pirates

27:40

Cultural Shift in Police Community Relations

30:21

Community Safety and Crime Reduction Strategies

33:44

Innovations in Mental Health Response

38:12

Addressing Mental Health Stigma

SPEAKER_02

In 2013, they called Detroit Carjack 6, but in 2013 we had roughly 800. In 2024, we had 142 carjackings.

SPEAKER_00

We've got non-fail shootings down 26%. You know, you probably even have better numbers than me. You know, look at you know the chief. Hold on, hold on. The chief comes with receipts. He comes with receipts. What people miss is that if part of my weapon is covered by my coat, it becomes concealed.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. And now you're in violation of the law, and now you're subject to arrest and you're going through the criminal justice process. You can have open carry, so your weapon is exposed. But when you get in your motor vehicle, you get in the car. Now with concealed weapon in motor vehicle, the weapon has now become concealed and you don't have a CPL, you're subject to arrest.

SPEAKER_00

But to any, what people don't seem to understand is that once that weapon is put into that car, it's concealed to anyone's on the outside. I used to joke in my when I was in law school, I said, I guess if I take the weapon to the top of my vehicle, so it's on the exterior, it would no longer be concealed. But in the interior of that vehicle, no one knows until someone tells them, and that's concealed, and people don't understand it. But when you see him, you probably already see him right now. He doesn't need an introduction, but he deserves an introduction, and he deserves a proper introduction given his years of service to our community. Um, I think the entire his the entirety of his career has been with the city of Detroit. His professional career has been with the city of Detroit. We're thankful to have him. We're thankful that the new administration with Mayor Sheffield has continued uh with him in uh in place as the chief of police. But, you know, let me let me say a couple of different things here. Um if I get them right, I get them right, or he'll correct me because he he'll he'll make sure the facts are correct. And um as he stands for, and and if they're not correct, he'll correct that and correct himself. And that kind of humility is what we need in our leadership. Um, but he's a graduate of Wayne State University. That's correct. And uh not only graduated Wayne State University, but uh uh graduate school um uh business degree. And uh you also went on to go to Eastern Michigan to get further training in staff and management uh training or what was that staff and command? Staff and command. Yeah, and then Oakland. I wanted to ask you about this one, Oakland University's Six Sigma Lean Management Certification Green Belt Program. Now that's that's some heavyweight stuff, you know what I mean? You just didn't go get a college degree, you wouldn't have got a master's degree, and then you wouldn't got further training, and then you wouldn't got the last happy one. When you talk Six Sigma, that's some that's that's big time. So I I do want to ask you about that, but before I do, I want to just introduce you to um my namesake, um, Chief uh police former deputy mayor, um, and who has worked from not an it wasn't a nationwide search type of thing. Maybe they did do one, but he's an individual who was born and raised in the Detroit Police Department. So he's from ground up, and this is the product that we have, and this is what we should be proud of. And and I am very proud to introduce Chief Todd Madison. Well, my brother, Todd, um, of course, I love this.

SPEAKER_01

I know, right? You know, I love this.

SPEAKER_02

It's it's it's rare to meet another Todd, and so this is my brother, and your son's name is Todd also, right? And my son's name is Todd also. Man, this is you know, just Todd. That's it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

One syllable names, you know, there's nothing more. Drop the mic.

SPEAKER_02

It's just straight to it. That's it. Yeah, but it's my pleasure to be here. Thank you so much for having me through your platform being able to speak to Detroit. But um it's it's it's good to be chief in the city of Detroit. I feel like really um I have to be the most blessed police chief, luckiest police chief um in America. Uh, I have had great support from this community from Mayor Duggan. He supported along with City Council and with City Council at the time. Um, it was led by Council President Mary Sheffield, who is now Madam Mayor and doing a phenomenal job. And um, I still have the support of council. I have the support of Madam Mayor. She reappointed me. Thank you very much, Madam Mayor. Um, very, very appreciative of that. But what's really special is the men and women of DPD support me also. And when you have that, you have what I call the teamwork, collaboration, you have an unbeatable team. And that's what it takes. It takes all of us all in to be able to make this place safe. And when I say this place, um, the city of Detroit, but crime knows no boundaries. And that's one of the things that I've come to realize as well, in that our children, they know no boundaries. And so our kids bounce from um the 10th precinct, or they bounce from the city of Detroit. They bounce out to Inkster, and Inkster is in Detroit and River Rouge and Ecourse, and Detroit has now become the entertainment capital of Michigan and really of this region with all of our sports teams down here. And I'm here in your beautiful office, which is right downtown on the river. So I want to congratulate you on this new office, too.

SPEAKER_00

Thank you. I, you know, we were in our former office in the Ford building round the corner from here, um, 28 years. And we decided to move. And it's no place else that I if I'm moving my business, there's no place else other than downtown Detroit. Detroit in and of itself, downtown Detroit is where it's happening. And, you know, it's it's thankful to, you know, former administrations and the current administration, how this is continuing to grow. And, you know, one of the things I think is important, and I I had to take a step aside and say that what people overlook, and when you people might overlook what you just said in here is that you were reappointed by this new administration, by Mayor Sheffield, who was former president, you served under uh Mayor Duggan, not only as may under Mayor Duggan as chief of police, but also as deputy mayor. Right. And you served in those capacities, and oftentimes, oftentimes when there's a change in administration, the for the new administration wants to clean house. And but you know, when the house is already clean and the house has already got a solid foundation, you know, why why tear you know, it's almost like that that uh uh that idiom where they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Who and who needs to build a better mousetrap? Right. You know, and it's already um, you know, in fact, we're gonna get to these numbers. You're trapping these numbers, you know what I mean? You you you really are um working the community and working with the community. You see you're all over, you're not looking for FaceTime, but you give people FaceTime. You give, you know, you I mean, I have had clients, and you know, the other day, I'm not even gonna mention any names, but these are higher ups and you're under your command. And they just really enjoy working under your command. Well, I mean that you know, they they like and respect the leadership. And where leadership comes in, there's a certain sense of confidence that you have in which you allow people their spaces to run their run their areas. And that's what this individual is saying. He says, you know, that was uh that was a great selection, and it was a lot of humility on behalf of the mayor to keep you there. Because oftentimes what happens? We know this from 30 years and being in in in in where our respective careers, they oftentimes get rid of the person who's in charge and and put their own person in. So I I just think that that's important that um and it says something about what you were doing before that allows you to continue the momentum and you know, um, I'll just say, you know, I'll say one thing. Draft day. Yes, you know what I'm saying? Draft day. I mean that that right there was uh was that 24 or was in 25? That was that was 24. That was 24. Draft day. I mean, nothing, no, I mean, you didn't I mean unless you were downtown, you didn't even know draft day was on unless you or you turned on the TV. That's how quiet it was. I mean, that's how many people were enjoying themselves. So um, but you know, let's get back to, you know, I wanted to talk about, let's talk about some of these numbers. Let's talk about them. Let's talk about some of these numbers because, you know, as a person who really built my career in criminal defense, I do a lot of other things now. Um, you know, I'm I'm used to the statistics and I'm used to the fact that, you know, I go to courts all around the country, but particularly around the state, and everybody always looked at Detroit with as the black eye of Michigan. And they don't look at it like that anymore. You know, you got a chief McConaughey over there who's cleaned up 36th District Court. It's an efficient court, but more importantly, these numbers are down. You you're putting you're putting defense attorneys out of business, you know. And that's that, I mean, there's so many of us who are applauding you. Um, because what happens is the prosecutions that you have are the good prosecutions. And it just makes defense attorneys work. But let's talk about those numbers.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I can't i I get a lot of credit for it, but it's a collaboration. Yeah. And it's a lot of people to really thank. And when I started out by saying just being blessed, I'm a collaborative chief. That's what I said when I um got appointed as interim chief and competed on a national level to actually get selected ultimately as chief. But um It really wasn't a competition.

SPEAKER_00

It just wasn't. But but go ahead, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02

So it it's a it's a couple folks that stand out that really come to mind. Um, Chief Executive Officer Warren Evans, who's the Wayne County executive over all of Wayne County, yeah, who was former police chief and a mentor of mine when he was with DP. He's a lawman. He's a lawman. He's a lawman. He was a sheriff. But but what I want Detroit and everyone to know is the fact that as the CEO of Wayne County, um, who oversees the budget for Wayne County, he's made some key strategical decisions to support public safety in the city of Detroit, specifically with prosecutors being assigned to my precincts, um, support when it comes to community violence intervention with the JDF, which is the juvenile detention facility, and some of the services there with our youth. But those decisions with the Wayne County Tether unit and making the Wayne County Sheriff available as well, as value add, has contributed to the reduction. And I went to the state of the county, he highlighted that, but I just really wanted to put a pin in it to say that I'm the chief who will pick up the phone, call my friends, and say, hey, I need you all. And they show up. I've called my Macomb County Sheriff, Anthony Wickersham, to help out with the draft, to help out when the Lions was in um the playoffs and say, hey, you know what? A lot of residents are coming from the Burbs. Can you send me some sheriffs? He sent me 25. I called up Mike Bouchard, he sent me 25. They say, What else you need? And so when you have that type of relationship, I have a great relationship with the feds as well. I've called um U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, he sent resources. We've also had federal agents with FTA, I mean ATF, FBI, et cetera, really step in and start to do prosecutions too. And let's not get forget um Madam Prosecutor, Wayne County um prosecutor Kim Worthy, who has been amazing. So I lift them up to say that when I'm standing at the podium and I reported out the 2025 end-of-year numbers, which were historic lows, they were at the podium with me along with community members. And last, I got a board of police commissioners that is civilian oversight that I work closely with. And you'll say, well, how does that benefit you? It's just an extra layer of where citizens' voices can be heard when they have complaints, they can come somewhere and have um um disputes resolved in the public. And that means so much because when in other communities, when our residents are not heard, you know what happens? They're going to be heard one way or the other. And so we want to give them an avenue where they can have their voices heard and we can resolve stuff in a peaceful manner. And in the city of Detroit, it has worked. We have not seen the things that we've seen in many other cities where folks have taken to violent protests. Here, you can protest, but I got Detroiters on my side when out-of-towners come in and say, hey, you you can protest in the city of Detroit. We do that, but you're not gonna tear our city up. And so it's not just the police keeping the peace. I got the whole community, residents of the city of Detroit, helping me, counselor, keep the peace.

SPEAKER_00

You know, so I'm smiling as you're saying these things because, you know, obviously humility comes to mind. But one of the things that's come to mind, and this is no strike against anyone in the past, is diplomacy. You know, the the willingness to pick up the phone, which takes a little humility, you know, that, you know, I need more resources, I need this, I need that because it's for the betterment of the community. But you know, something you've also you've also been, and I don't I don't want to necessarily go into it because there are probably legal issues that are there, but you know, you make decisions that don't necessarily make you popular, but you know it's the right decision right here. You know, that thing where you talk about with your grandparents or your parents taught you to believe in and do the things that maybe on paper it might not be agreeable on what they say as far as those rules, but sometimes those rules aren't always right. And I want to applaud you for some of the decisions that you make. I'm not gonna go into specifics because as a lawyer, you probably have there are probably tangential legal issues that still have to play themselves out. But that's what I'm talking about, what I hear in the community about you. And, you know, again, people don't always agree with you, but they know your voice is heard with you. You know, and that's, you know, I have to believe that that's one of the reasons why what do we have? We've got non-fatal shootings down 26%. You know, you probably even have better numbers than me. You know, look at you, you know, the chief, hold on, hold on, the chief comes with receipts. He comes with receipts. So, so let's go through some of these numbers. Let's talk about non-fatal shootings. How far are we down in that? Am I am I right with down 26%?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're absolutely um if you round up 25.7 percent. Okay. And that's a shooting where an individual survived. Right. And I just want to make that clarification. Um, it's a subcategory of aggravated assault, and we track our nonfatal shootings, and they if you look at the trend line over the years, it is is going down, and that's what we want to happen. We folks want crime reduced, and so year over year, we've been successful. Now, another category where it just fell off the map. I never know where you're going. Go ahead. Oh, I have to go there. Go, please. Carjacking. Oh, I know. Oh. Detroiters who've been around, you remember back in 2013, 14, and even in the 90s, when my mentor was around, um, and I was a young police officer in the 90s. We had something in the Detroit Police Department that we formed called the Carjacking Task Force. Yeah. Hilton Napoleon worked it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

But in 2013, they called Detroit Carjack City.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, one of your commanders used to be on Dunny. Yep. Used to be on. Sure did. And uh, you know, my younger brother used to be a firefighter, retired as a firefighter. Really? He was at carjacked either two or three times. One of the times his car was, the guy was waiting, washing his car out in front of the Social Security office when the guy got caught. You know, and it was just it was something that people just did. But also, you know, something which you I believe are part of this trend, and I believe that's happening with the leadership in the city is a culture change.

SPEAKER_01

It is.

SPEAKER_00

You know, and the city is not not accepting that. But you know, go let's go to that number. So is it accurate that you had a total of 77 for the year? Yes. Okay. And and that's what people don't understand. I mean, some people may say that's a lot. That is it's it's still unacceptable by your standards, I'm sure. But you know, when we're going from, I mean, we had hundreds in in in in years past.

SPEAKER_02

I I'll give you the whole number, for example. So I said in 2013 we had roughly 800. Okay. In 2024, we had 142 carjackings. 25, 77. We cut that 45.8%. So roughly 46% cut going in the right direction, and we're still trending down this year. And so we will continue to do and do this and that and that, and throw the kitchen sink at crime until we can get it down as low as possible. I want to put myself out of business.

SPEAKER_00

You know, and I and one of the things that I maybe it's your education, your training, definitely your experience. One of the things is that you're not necessarily, you're not looking for just over there is a penalty component with crime. Yes. But we also know that it's not just the penalty that's gonna stop crime. It has to start in other ways. And I think that, you know, your experience in being the deputy mayor allowed you to explore those other avenues and and understand other aspects of the community and doing work in the community and giving kids opportunity in the community so that not only do you create a relationship with young younger people, but you also let those younger people know there's opportunity for me out here and that I don't have to go this way. That's what I I I've seen that myself from being a defense attorney, but I've also seen how your police force interacts with people. Um you know, people are walking the streets with them. You know, and they're they're you know, they're I I've seen them do just I mean, I see them at the gas station pumping gas for for the lady who's didn't ask, they just said, Well, let me pump your gas for you.

SPEAKER_02

We we're gonna do more of that, counselor.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Um and Madame Mayor just had the state of the city. Yeah, she just really put her fingerprints in in and announced you what's to come. Um when it comes to public safety. Of course, we are gonna continue with law enforcement, but preventative intervention comes first.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

And it's cheaper. It's it's way cheaper. Yes. You know, I don't want to help somebody after they've already got out of trouble. Lawyer fees are expensive. Yeah. By the time they get, you know, when they when you're in trouble, uh they gotta call you.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And guess what? He is not cheating, y'all. Don't believe everything you hear. Don't don't. Look, you know, everybody I know want to pay an attorney, and I know how good you are. But you would rather them call before they get in trouble. And so this summer, we know that crime, violent crime, more people are out, having a good time, celebrating. The numbers go up in the summer as it gets warmer. And so we plan on having, um, and we're working to have things laid down, the foundation where we're gonna keep our youth occupied a lot in identifying the right ones, the most at-risk ones that we have with um a summer basketball league. We had a community violence intervention basketball league, but we've expanded that with PAL. Um, Madam Mayor is keeping the recreation centers open layer. And so some folks will say, well, basketball, how does that help? Oh, wait a minute. That's to get them there. But we have the wraparound resources so that we can have the conversation. We have there individuals who are trained in restorative conflict resolution. So we resolve conflict right there and teach them how to think different. If they're hungry, having the resources there, being able to give them a meal, but also secondary support for their family so that you start to be able to get into the household to figure out what's going on so that we can connect you to employment or other resources that you need, unstable housing. It's when you're having the conversation and you have access, you can provide the opportunity so that you can heal the systemic problems that actually result to the bad behavior. We're gonna do that.

SPEAKER_00

You know, I'm just sitting here really kind of marveling at the way that you speak. Almost just like it's you know, this is something you live and breathe and and truly believe. Yes. Uh, and it's it's not is there's no fake with this with you. No, you know, and you know, but it's it's your experiences that I I gotta believe because I mean you started as an officer. Oftentimes you see people who've worked, and then they come in, they bring in another um person to become chief, but you started and you started and you've had you've had some great mentors. You had the great Benny Napoleon, you know, who you know, and see, I'm gonna throw a feather in our in our hat and I'm gonna put it in there, a lawyer. You know, you had the great Warren Evans, a lawyer, you know. So, you know, but no, I I I mean that's Seriously, these are people who were committed, and you're carrying that baton on. But one of the things I I do have to say, and I wasn't, you know, as having having been a former candidate running for mayor, I am impressed with what's going on right now. You know, and I I really am. And, you know, my only concern is we have to continue to grow in order to pay for these things. And our city needs to continue to grow population-wise, uh, you know, economically we need to grow because we do need to embrace what you're talking about. Because as you're talking, you sound like, you know, and I'm not taking away from the mayor, but you sound like someone who understands not only the policing component, but you understand the whole big uh operation that this is. As if, I mean, you are um coming, you know, having come off this uh the state of the city, you know, you understand, and it sounds like Madame Mayor is making sure that everyone in her inner circle understands what the plan is. Because that is the plan. You're you're talking about not just policing, you're talking about the plan. You know what I'm saying? And really from a plan from the perspective of the young people. Because they are truly our future.

SPEAKER_02

We have a plan. It it is amazing, and you understand better than most, you were a candidate. You have heard from the people. And you have been like the the people's lawyer in the city of Detroit. I mean still, I want to be that forever. You you you my guy. But thank you. You you are. And um, you, your brother, who sits on the bench, just amazing, supportive as well. Um I I I can't say enough about the Perkins brothers, but thank you.

SPEAKER_00

But and he says, you know, my brother is interesting, you know, he's had some stuff, but he, you know, no matter what things that we kind of laugh about and things like that, the police that he says that come into his court, he does traffic.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And a lot of people negate traffic. They they don't think traffic's very important, but it's one of the most dangerous situations for a police officer because you don't know who you're stopping. And, you know, other than a domestic rhyme, you know, statistically. And he says they're they are they're on it. They are prepared, you know, and even and and then even when they do something like they may have a number wrong or the humility, they're just not, they're not gonna be dishonest. Right. You know, that's one of the things that he says there, that they're professional, they're they're clear, they speak well, they know how to uh be compassionate.

SPEAKER_02

Even when they don't have their pants on.

SPEAKER_00

Even when they don't, that's the one, you know, but I gotta say that, you know, he really enjoys that guy uh a lot. And that was the reason why he didn't give him any business. You know, he was just a little shocked, you know. But and and here's the thing: one of the things, you know, since you brought it up, you know, if you look at a Zoom, the problem what people don't understand with Zoom is that when I'm looking at myself from my Zoom camera, on the other end, whoever's looking at me has a bigger scope. Oh so where I'm looking at myself and it doesn't show myself with with no pants on, right? The other side is seeing that. And you don't see that sometimes. So clearly, obviously, that guy is a he's a veteran in the force, and you know, he would never do that intentionally, but you don't see it. Uh and so, you know, when I was on when I'm on Zoom, even during COVID, I would always be in a suit because I want to be in the mentality of what I'm there for. Right. And I'm thinking better by being in that, in that situation. And, you know, oftentimes uh, you know, a lot of police are coming into court when they come and testify, they're in they're in their uniforms. Some of them are just coming off the street to come into court, and some of them are just getting off work.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_00

You know, and um, no, I I enjoy what you're doing with the with this team, and uh, I just enjoy the spirit because we've come from a point in time where police wasn't really our friends. You know, you think about it, when we were kids, you know, the police, you know, they they got a bad rep, and sometimes deservedly so. Right. But nowadays, I mean, I I I I talk I go around the country, and and you know, the love that the Detroiters have for the Detroit police department is so much different and so much greater than other cities I've been to who uh haven't gotten it. I think Detroit has finally picked up and gotten it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it it's it's it's great. Another thing I wanted to touch on is, and and you heard it in the state of the city, when Madam Mayor um really touched on property crime. And so in our precincts, um we've really taken on uh emphasis on that. So our violent crime has come down, but oftentimes Detroiters they experience a lot of property crime. You hear that, and and then you'll look around, and we've done great recently. We got a Gucci store downtown. Yeah, you know, we got some other stores that are so fancy, um, I can't even pronounce them.

SPEAKER_00

I don't even know what they are, but see them on Woodward.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, uh, and I I hear about them. You know, we got an Apple store. Yes, and you know, it but we want the Kroakers and we want these other things throughout the neighborhoods.

SPEAKER_00

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02

And one of the things that we hear is like the retail theft or the property crime, and then from Detroiters, you know, porch pirates, and that happens across, I mean, in the suburbs, you got porch pirates. But DPD, under the direction of the mayor, we're taking a real emphasis when it comes to enforcing property crime. So I'm gonna let you know right now, you know how typically you will see on the media be on the lookout for somebody who did a violent crime, like a carjacking, et cetera. We're really going after retail fraud. We're gonna be going after porch pirates to protect Detroiter stuff. Well, and so you're gonna see be on the lookout for some of these individuals that are the porch pirates that took your Amazon package. We're going after the ones too that are doing some of the stuff when it comes to retail fraud. It might seem small, but Detroiters and we all deserve to have an atmosphere where we should have stores like that, the same thing in the community. And it's not about criminalization of anybody, but it's about changing behavior. For example, I'm gonna report this one stat out too. We're talking about violent crime a lot, but in 2025, I closed out the year collectively, motor vehicle theft. I don't know if your car has ever gotten stolen before, but mine has. And that's the worst feeling in the world. And you don't want the car back.

SPEAKER_00

You know, even if they find it, you don't want it back.

SPEAKER_02

So last year, we cut motor vehicle theft by 23%. We had it's just amazing, man. The level of crime of how we just continuously push down, and hopefully it'll translate into um lower car insurance, too.

SPEAKER_00

That's what I was gonna I was gonna go there too. But, you know, let me take some of the magic away and not to steal your thunder or anything like that. But the reason why you're able to do this is because you've done so much good work on the major things. When you had the house burning with violent crimes, CSCs, criminal sexual conduct, uh, murder, um, uh non-fatal shootings, when you had carjackings, when now you can focus on those, but still not take the emphasis off of making sure. And I think it's also police presence, I think it's police interaction. And I just believe that it is also, it is really a culture shift of the police interacting. And you know, the police are no longer the the mortal enemy of the neighborhood. You know, you go to even some of the rougher neighborhoods, they do not look at police officers like the same way when I was a kid. They do not. And that's a what I'm saying is that is an awesome thing to have.

SPEAKER_02

And for you to say that, you know. I mean, and and and folks trust Todd Perkins. For you to say that, and you, I mean, you're in the streets, you're in the barbershops, you're it everybody comes to you. And and, you know, I'm I'm I'm just glad that um we have that relationship, and we've been had a relationship. This is this is my guy. This is it this is nothing, nothing right here is fake. Going back.

SPEAKER_00

Like going back to what to almost 30 years. Yes. Almost 30 years. And uh, no, but it it, you know, it doesn't mean that when they come to court, I'm gonna be nice. No. No, it doesn't mean that. You know, no, you know, we have to have our A game on. We have to have our A game on. And you know, it's interesting when I see officers and they they get tuned up in that seat when we're getting ready to do the cross-examination or the direct examination. And it's kind of like, even though it's gonna get contentious, we're still smiling. You know, because he's like, you've got a job to do, and I have a job to do. And it's my job to study what I did. It's the same with you. And it's no, you know, because everybody wants to go back and back to their jobs, back to their homes. But then in the meantime, we have jobs to do. But I was stepping outside of that, talking about the community, I'm telling you what the community is saying about DPD. It it just it it is just something that I have not seen in in in really in my entire lifetime. I mean, I grew up at a point in time when when I was a real little kid, we had stress. Yes. You know, so you know, you had people who would see the cars and run. You know, nowadays, you know, they see it and you know, sometimes because they don't run and the others do, maybe that identifies them as doing something wrong. But no, it's just again, it is a culture shift that it's a positive thing that like the the real thing I look at is growth in the business community, in the neighborhoods, the reduction of uh insurance rates, you know, because you can take now, you can take those numbers that you have and you take them, and you know, when the mayor has to talk to these insurance companies about, hey, I'm growing a city and you're not allowing me to grow it, but these are the numbers. So you're it's a falsehood to have these insurance rates as high as they are. But that's it takes that team to make that happen. And I I, you know, I'm just impressed.

SPEAKER_02

And growing the population, yes, affordable housing. Yes. And affordable housing doesn't mean low-income housing, you know, it it's different levels. Right. In a big city, we have to have it all. Right. You know, so you know, it's a place for low income, it's a place for affordable, it's a place for market rate, and it's a place for exclusive.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

You know, in a big city, you you have to have it all. Absolutely. And then, but at the same time, what's the most important thing? People want to feel safe. Want to feel safe. Feel safe, have schools. Yep. You know, that's another issue that I mean we don't necessarily get into here, but I mean, you know, this is these are the things that create a community, you know, because if we don't have them, we don't have community.

SPEAKER_02

But I partner, I work very closely with the chief of police of um Detroit Public Schools Community District. That's Chief Jackson. A shout out to him. He does amazing work over there. We're like this, because like I said, it's um criminals know no boundaries.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_02

And it's not a lot. And I I want to say this just like you got a job, you're a lawyer, you get up and do lawyer stuff, you represent client, you represent clients each and every day.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_02

A lot of it. You don't stop. Well, you can feel that a neighborhood is having a lot of crime. It can be one person, one or two people. If they break in houses, they break in houses each and every day, a couple houses a day. They got a job. They got a job.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And it can make you feel like everywhere is unsafe and that everybody is doing it. And so we study the crime, we utilize the technology. I encourage everybody to get a ring doorbell, have video cameras. That helps us. And we identify them. And of course, doesn't that help in court?

SPEAKER_00

Oh, it or hurt, or hurt, right? Help or hurt. I don't know which way we're looking at this, but you know, yeah, when you when it when when they canvas a scene, and you know, you go to the ring doorbells. I mean, the the the you know, and there's this is one of the things that the community is providing to the police, right? The police better do better at their jobs. Right. Um, so yeah, absolutely. It is uh it makes for better investigations. Yeah. It makes more more difficult work for me if I have those cases. But again, I I enjoy a challenge, but more importantly, when I see those things, like you're giving you're giving tips to to the people. Yes. You know, and and that's what you do, like when you use your Facebook time, you're giving tips all the time. Like you said, the ring doorbells, and you know, getting and and I understand that this is a program actually to get those things almost like fire detectors, so that people can have these things. So um, you know, but again, I you know, actually, you know, I gotta just step aside again. You know, I had all these questions to ask you, and and you know, you kind of answered everything I wanted to hear from. And, you know, but I want to know you you've taken us somewhere there, but where do you expect or where your goal? What is your goal for 2026 and 2000 for the next term?

SPEAKER_02

Continuous improvement. I told a command officer at Comstat today, even if we were perfect, which we're not, we're gonna still strive to do better than that. Um, always working towards making it better. Right now we have something called co-response.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Mayor Sheffield highlighted it in the state of the city. And so on day shift and afternoon shift, which is basically um 8 a.m. through 12 a.m., I have um police officers out there with a behavioral health specialist in the car so that if you have to call for one of your loved ones that's suffering a mental crisis, I got specially trained police officers with a behavioral health specialist that can show up. And they have different tools, they have a different uniform, it it's it's a different field. They're trained to deal with that on a higher level to ensure a better outcome. And so it's less probability for a use of force, and it's been going very well. However, I didn't have three shifts. I need three shifts to cover 24-7. So within the next 30 days, I'm gonna have three shifts. Um, that's just another thing of taking something good and making it better.

SPEAKER_00

Um I I gotta give a shout out to former Chief White, yes, who started, you know, on it on that. And I'm sure you work collaboratively with him now um with having the social workers. But see, now you also have those individuals embedded into you've created, embedding them into the Detroit Police Department rather than them being sort of contracted out, um, and they're actually part of the team that comes out. And, you know, that I I think that idea was born out of tragedy, you know, one of those. It was that, you know, the shootings that took place for mental health individuals. And, you know, this is a great thing and something that's very needed because it hasn't been until recently in the past, I want to say 10 years, that we started refocusing and re uh realigning our resources with mental health um um issues.

SPEAKER_02

Chief White, well, I still call him Chief White, but now he's we all do now he's CEO White, everybody. He's Chief Executive Officer of D Wynn, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. And I was actually, before I came here, I was sitting down with him.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_02

Strategizing, talking about what we're doing next. I won't get in front of him, but he's doing some amazing things. He's adding more beds online so that, you know, back in the day what happened under the Ingler administration when they shut down shut down the Lafayette Clinic where we were able to take people for long-term stays, um, he's putting beds back online.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

And so um CEO White is doing amazing work, but we're just like that. And so when I talk about continuous improvement, I inherited a great department. He ran an excellent department. So I said, brother, brother, brother, all I can do is build upon the foundation that you have laid. And so my thing is collaboration and continuous improvement, loving the city of Detroit, working together, calling my friends up and saying, hey, let's make everybody safer.

SPEAKER_00

You know, it's interesting that collaboration is the key. Well, I think collaboration and diplomacy. Yes. You know, because you getting the suburbs in to help, you know, that was something we didn't think about doing. I mean, not to say that, you know, and I'm not saying that Detroiters themselves, I think the suburbs have come around to seeing the value of a better Detroit enhancing and making a better suburb. And they have come around. Because we've always, you know, something we've always been re our reaching our arm across the aisle. But um, no, I just uh uh I also wanted to say this. You've never not been part of the DPD team. So, you know what I'm saying? So to say that, you know, but you've always been a part of, you know, you've been in executive management for 20 years. That's right. You know, so it's uh, you know, you have been part of that team and but giving Chief White his flowers, now CEO White. CEO? You know, you may have given us our next idea who's gonna be our guest here. You know, you'd have gone in the hot seat.

SPEAKER_02

You you have to get him here. Um when when mental, mental health, we all have some level of trauma that we've experienced. Um the stigma is going away now, but it's still too much stigma when it comes to that. And I encourage individuals that you have to be courageous to get the people the help that they need when you can see somebody in crisis, they may can't do it for themselves, but you have to step in if you love them. And most folks, most Detroiters will say, Well, I don't want them to be mad at mad at me. I don't want to overstep. If they're in if you see your friend or your family member and you notice something off and and it's declining before they completely, as the young folks say, crash out and it gets to that spot of no return. Get them to help. I've had to do it personally for people I know. I helped the hardest thing I ever did was I had to commit a family member, had to sign a petition and and take them to the crisis center. Hardest thing I ever did.

SPEAKER_00

But the hardest thing you ever did, but you probably saved a life. I did. Because we've seen what's happened when we don't pay attention to those things or don't take care of those people who we see spiraling out. You know, it metastasizes to something that um it becomes tragic. Yeah. You know, rather than, you know, I'd rather a relative be mad at me, have his mouth poked out, but be healthy, getting better. And hopefully, you know, in a couple months he he he'd understand. I did it just because you needed it. You needed somebody to pay attention, but you know, you're also doing that as a department too. So that that is, you know, and hopefully what we can do is continue to educate our community. Because, you know, our community, I also oftentimes talks talk about the black community. We have had less experience with those resources historically. Yes, we have. And now that we have those resources and the the knowledge of those resources is important for us to use them and afford it important for us to apply them to those and and offer them to those uh who are in need. I I can't leave without, you know, you're an educating chief. So, you know, we're getting warmer, and like you said, as the as the as the temperature rises, more people are out. Yes, you know, so lawyer to chief, let's talk about some things that can help our community. Um, guns, okay, you know, and you know, the second people always talking about the second amendment, the right to possess firearms. But possessing them in a concealed fashion, what does that take to be able to do that?

SPEAKER_02

You have to have a concealed pistol license. Okay. So you have to apply and have it. It's not that hard, but you have to take some safety courses to know how to handle the weapon. You will be amazed at how many shooting reports I get where people have shot themselves. I actually had a shooting incident that happened over the weekend where a person was demonstrating gun safety who should not have been demonstrating gun safety, and he shot himself in front of his family and friends. He's no longer here with us. Oh, wow. He should have took the course. Wow. Yeah. That's that's yeah, guns are guns, you know, and to kids, don't you see it, don't touch it, don't handle it. Just just point it out to an adult. Um, also very practical to Detroiters. This is something very practical. Inventory your weapons. I know people we talk about gun locks. It's individuals who have so many guns in their house, they've lost track of them. So I need all my people out there within the sound of my voice. Inventory your weapon. You've lost track of some of them, but your kids know exactly where they are.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, no, I and you know something, this is what they need to hear. Coming from the chief. So I'm not a fan as a lawyer. I'm not a fan of this. Open carry. You know, and what people don't seem to understand with open carry, can you tell them, you tell our audience, or I can tell open carry being able to, if I can lawfully possess a weapon? Because what you one of the things we did miss here is that you have to have the ability to lawfully possess a weapon, meaning that you don't you don't have a felony uh conviction that disallows you the right to have a weapon, or you're not on some form of probation that disallows you from having a fel uh a firearm. So you lawfully possess a weapon. And if you lawfully possess a weapon, You can carry that weapon in an open, unconcealed fashion, but what people miss is that if part of my weapon is covered by my coat, it becomes concealed.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. And now you're in violation of the law, and now you're subject to arrests and you're going through the criminal justice process, and some folks have my number and they'll call me, and I'm like, I can't help you. The best advice I have is get a good lawyer. You know, Todd Perkins. And that's how they get connected to you oftentimes. Yeah. But on another note, it's another aspect of it. You can have open carry, so your weapon is exposed, but when you get in your motor vehicle, you get in the car. Now it's concealed weapon in motor vehicle. The weapon has now become concealed and you don't have a CPL, you're subject to arrest. Know the laws if you're gonna do it, but I'm not a fan of open carry. I'm not either. I'm not. And open carry gets a lot of individuals in trouble because it's a lot of rules and stipulations to it.

SPEAKER_00

You know, and and it's interesting, you would be surprised how not you won't be, because officers will walk up to a car and an individual say, you know, because they don't pull them out of the car. They're just having a conversation because they stopped them for a traffic offense. And they say, Do you have any weapons in the car? And the individual will say, Yes, but I'm open carrying, meaning that he has it on the front seat. But to any, what people don't seem to understand is that once that weapon is put into that car, it's concealed to anyone's on the outside. I used to joke in my when I was in law school, I said, I guess if I tape the weapon to the top of my vehicle, so it's on the exterior, it would no longer be concealed. But in the interior of that vehicle, no one knows until someone tells them, and that's concealed, and people don't understand it. And people, you know, lawful, lawful-minded individuals find themselves in the crosshairs of the criminal justice system because they just don't know. And I'm I'm hoping that our conversation will help that aspect because there's no such thing as open carrying in a motor vehicle. That's right. That's CCW, that's five-year fellow. Yeah. But uh, no, I um I I want to continue this, and I want to continue the education, especially like you said, it's getting warm, and we want people to know uh what their rights are. And you know, and again, you've always been a proponent of that. You know, that people don't have to talk to the police. But at the end of the day, um knowing your rights is the first the first step in making sure that you know you get the right kind of outcomes.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Um we don't want individuals who have the right intentions and make a legitimate mistake. But, you know, as they say, ignorance of the law is no excuse. It is is not an excuse. And once you're caught in the criminal justice system, um, it can be detrimental as far as your ability to be able to support your family now.

SPEAKER_01

Right.

SPEAKER_02

And so we want individuals in the city of Detroit of Detroit to be able to thrive, support their families. That's how we rise higher, that's how we build, um, getting a concealed pistol permit, your license, that's the best scenario. Do it the right way, Detroit.

SPEAKER_00

What what is the biggest issue that's facing your department that you see and in the in this next administration in your next years? Do we do budget?

SPEAKER_02

It's it's always budget. Okay. It's always budget and competition to have a competitive salary for our officers. We um gave competitive raises, right? And um we had put our officers basically number one. And so when DPD raised our salary, and the suburban entities could no longer entice our officers to leave, well, they responded in kind by raising their salaries. And so um, you know, with the economy being able to continue to be competitive. Right now, I hover at 97, 98, 99% field rate. So I've been doing a great job of not only hiring, but also retaining. And so, but as contract negotiations come up, that's something that we'll have to contend with, making sure that we stay competitive.

SPEAKER_00

Um make sure you call us about that. We do we do good for the for the sheriff.

SPEAKER_02

Uh well well when we raise our salary, you and you, you this the sheriff's salary went up, you know? Yeah, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, but but you know, one of the things I remember, and I I and uh, you know, I'm gonna let you get out of here, but it's important. When I years ago, I'd be in court and I'd see individuals who weren't officers, but like there were some professions, they have they scout your officers. I'm talking about Toledo, I'm talking about Cincinnati. They come from all over the country to get DPD officers, which you spend, what would you say, the academy costs about $40,000, $50,000 to put someone through the academy?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I pay them full benefits, uh I pay them their salary while they're there, plus the instructor training. So absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. So that type of when you lose those, you know, retention is just as important as getting them in. And uh, and and I think you do a fair, it's a lot better um in what's happening now in vetting uh the good apples from sometimes the bad apples.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I'm proud to have you on as a guest. I I know you're busy, um, you know, you but you're right down the street from us, you know, always, you know, and I want to extend on our behalf any when you have something, we want to be a part of it. We want to support it. Um, we want to because, you know, and a lot oftentimes people say, Well, how are you, how are you supporting the administration? Because here's the thing what we all want is success. That's right. We want her you, we want her to be successful because if she's successful, you're gonna be successful, and they work in a kind of synergy and all of uplift us all. So I I again, you know, I want you to call me at any time. And and you have in the past for people that have needed things, and as well as I always call you about people that I need to need help with, I I don't mind picking up that phone. Even I have to admit, there's certain things I can't do that the chief can't. And um, you know, but I thank you for the friendship. I thank you for the service to the community, and I look forward to seeing greater things um in this next administration. And I want to I want to be as much a part of that as any community community member.

SPEAKER_02

Together, like like Madame Bear says, we will rise rise higher Detroit, right? Right. Together we will rise higher, and we want that. You know, I love the fact that we got cranes in the sky.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

SPEAKER_00

I love the fact that, you know the number one, the number one waterfront in the country. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. We're winning. The number one town square, campus marshes. Yeah, and you said it, the number one waterfront.

SPEAKER_00

And it's gonna get better. We have a front row seat to Mr. Gilbert tearing down these towers. I know that's a sign of contention, but if we're gonna watch that go down, it's gonna expand that into the park area and expand our waterfront.

SPEAKER_02

But he's leaving the tallest tower.

SPEAKER_00

No, he's leaving those those three right over here. Yeah. He's leaving the tallest tower.

SPEAKER_02

Right, right. Oh, yeah. But but but we don't have something like Navy Pier.

SPEAKER_00

That's exactly it.

SPEAKER_02

Right. And you know, we we all go to Chicago and um And now they're gonna start coming here. That's right.

SPEAKER_00

You know, but I I see brochures now. Of people wanting to come to the city of Detroit. I mean, did we see that as kids? Never. We never saw that. Never. Other than people who had family here. That's right. That was the only reason, but now you see people coming. And that, you know, like I'm I'm in other cities. Should I gotta try a case in Iowa in in May. When I'm in the airport, I see the brochures come to Detroit. I mean, and I'm sure that's the outreach from our city that's doing some of that tourism um outreach that they're doing. But no, it's happening organically. The things that you are doing, the things that the administration are doing, it it is the her around the world.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I will promise to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm gonna hold you accountable to keep doing what you're doing, and I will be a caller.

SPEAKER_00

Please call me anytime.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you, my brother.

SPEAKER_00

My namesake. Yep.