Detroit Board Expects To Review Police Chief Candidates In July

DETROIT — The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners expects to bring candidates for its next police chief in for review late next month, the board said Tuesday.

Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig retired effective Tuesday. His replacement on the interim basis is James White — a native Detroiter and 24-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department.

The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners expects to see information about candidates for Detroit’s new police chief within the next three to four weeks for review, Chair Willie E. Bell announced this week.

The board is required to conduct a national search and to select three finalists to submit to Mayor Mike Duggan for his appointment, according to the city charter. Duggan's appointment is subject to approval by the city council.

“The Board approved a contract with TJA Staffing Inc. of Detroit, a nationally-respected executive search firm,” Bell said. “Our contract sets the framework for the search, applications, interviews, and finalist selections to take place within three months. We expect to see information about the candidates this month.”

The search firm will receive submissions from all interested candidates, interview 20-30 candidates, and present the resumes and profiles of the most qualified candidates to the board, Bell said.

The board will determine the candidates it wants to interview and whether to hold the interviews via Zoom or in person, Bell said, adding that the board also has the option to review and evaluate resumes without interviews.