Detroit has an interim police chief. James White returns to the department after a few months as executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. White was an assistant police chief in the city for seven years under outgoing chief James Craig.
White says he will seek the permanent job, and gave praise to his predecessor.
“I'll certainly take a lot of what he's instilled in me and taught me about leadership. He is really one of the smartest police minds I've ever had the privilege of working with, but I will do James White. I will not do James Craig.”
Craig announced his resignation last week.
Mayor Mike Duggan says the Board of Police Commissioners and an independent firm will conduct a search and present him with options for the permanent position.
“[White] is going to be compared against the best applicants we get from around the state around the country. That's what they're going to do in their process. But if he comes in and unifies this department and starts to make an impact, he's going to be an extremely strong, permanent candidate.”
The process to find candidates and hire a new chief is expected to take two to three months.
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