Council advances interim police chief after hour-long interview with Todd Bettison

The Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole on Wednesday advanced a recommendation to consider Todd Bettison for the permanent police chief job after a morning interview during which Bettison described his long career with the Detroit Police Department and outlined plans for community engagement and accountability.

Bettison, introduced for the record as Todd Bettison, interim chief of police, said he joined the department in 1994 and has served in ranks up to assistant chief. He said his experience as deputy mayor and in public-safety coordination for major events gives him a perspective he would bring to the chief's job.

"I joined the department in 1994. I've worked under many chiefs and those experiences have prepared me to hold the top seat as chief of police if this council so sees fit," Bettison said.

In the interview, Bettison emphasized a hands-on approach to community engagement. "I don't believe in just sitting in my seat. I believe in leaving the office, going out to where the community is," he said, describing regular neighborhood visits, youth programs such as Explorers, and partnerships with Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Bettison also described steps he would take to measure performance, saying supervisors and line officers must have clear metrics and that training should be more than exposure to administrative messages. "We will put metrics in place to know that they're doing what we expect them to do, so that you can measure productivity, performance and efficiency," he told council members.

Council members praised Bettison's record during the interview. Council Member Angela Calloway(sic) voiced strong support: "You have my full support... You have earned our respect and our trust," she said. Members raised questions about residency and recruitment of officers to more closely reflect Detroit's demographics; Bettison said the department is actively recruiting locally and that recent pay adjustments have encouraged some former officers to reapply.

After the interview the committee voted by motion to send line item 8.1 forward to a formal session with a recommendation to approve. The committee recorded no objection and the action was taken, per the meeting record.

The committee also pressed Bettison on his commitment to attend Board of Police Commissioners meetings and to remain accessible. Bettison said he would regularly attend and stay for public comment. He noted crime statistics the department tracks and credited investments such as the Real Time Crime Center for contributing to reductions in violent crime.

The committee recessed the interview to take up other business and later returned to it; the formal recommendation on line item 8.1 advances the process but does not finalize a permanent appointment.

The committee did not take a roll-call recorded vote on the recommendation during the interview; the motion was made and approved without objection.

Looking ahead, councilmembers asked for continued documentation of Bettison's plans for metrics, recruitment and neighborhood policing, and said they expect follow-up reports if he becomes permanent chief.