Todd Bettison, the current Detroit Deputy Mayor, has been appointed as the city’s interim police chief following James White’s departure to become CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.
Bettison, a law enforcement leader and former second-in-command at the Detroit Police Department, brings decades of experience to the position.
Bettison’s career in public service began 30 years ago, rising through the ranks at DPD. Starting as a patrol officer in 1994, and quickly advanced from sergeant to lieutenant within his first six years on the force.
By 2017, he had been promoted to deputy chief and then assistant chief.
His track record eventually led to his current role as Deputy Mayor, where he manages various aspects of city government and bridges the gap between city officials, community leaders, and activists across Detroit.
Bettison holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wayne State University and a Graduate Business degree from the Mike Ilitch School of Business.
Additionally, he is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University’s School of Police Staff and Command and holds a Six Sigma/Lean Management Green Belt Certification from Oakland University.
His legacy includes innovative crime-fighting initiatives that have had a measurable impact on Detroit’s safety. Notably, he played a key role in the development and implementation of “Shotstopper,”
Detroit’s “ShotStoppers” program, part of the city’s Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiative, launched on August 1, 2023, to address g.n violence. Six community groups were selected to reduce crime in designated zones through customized strategies. Many of the groups saw a significant drop in crime.
