Detroit honors Ombudsman Bruce Simpson as he concludes 10‑year tenure

The Detroit City Council on Oct. 7 presented a testimonial resolution honoring Bruce Simpson as he concluded 10 years as the city’s ombudsman.

Council President Pro Tem James Tate introduced Simpson and read a resolution praising his leadership, community outreach and fiscal recommendations. Simpson told the council he sought to build an office “that provided a level of service that the people could be proud of” and outlined his office’s work during periods of bankruptcy, emergency management and lawsuits.

In his final remarks, Simpson said his office increased staff and funding during his tenure and tracked a high volume of casework. “I either took or oversaw the receipt of 74,278 complaints with an overall resolution rate of 72%,” Simpson said. He also said the office’s budget rose from under $800,000 to about $2.6 million, and that nearly 50 recommendations were submitted to the council, with two becoming state law on behalf of disabled veterans.

Council members from across the dais praised Simpson’s outreach and independence. Council members credited his office’s door‑to‑door campaigns, neighborhood meetings and advocacy, and several colleagues recalled working with Simpson on neighborhood cleanups and community outreach. The council read and adopted a testimonial resolution that commended Simpson’s decade of service and presented him with the formal citation.

The recognition concluded a morning of resolutions and presentations that also included honors for community leaders and nonprofits serving Detroit residents.