Mayor names Todd Bettison as Deputy Mayor

2022

Mayor names Todd Bettison as Deputy Mayor

  • Mayor says he has been impressed with Bettison’s ability to work with community groups across the political spectrum
  • 27-year DPD veteran starts as Deputy Mayor on May 23

Mayor Mike Duggan has announced today that he has named Todd Bettison as his new Deputy Mayor to oversee many aspects of city government and serve as a bridge to community leaders and activists across the political spectrum.  Bettison, who currently serves as 1st Assistant Chief of Police, begins his new position on May 23.  He replaces Conrad Mallett, who recently was confirmed by City Council as the city’s new Corporation Counsel.

“Todd Bettison has a remarkable ability to work positively with every type of community group to improve the city,” Duggan said.  His leadership of the Neighborhood Police Officer program was a major part of changing the way the Detroit Police Department relates to Detroiters.” 

The son of a Detroit school teacher of 38 years, Bettison comes to the position of Deputy Mayor following a distinguished 27-year career with the Detroit Police Department, that culminated to his elevation as second in command to Chief James White. In that role he has overseen all aspects of the department’s community relations, as well as administrative functions of DPD. 

As Deputy Mayor, Bettison will fill in for Mayor Duggan if the mayor is incapacitated or otherwise unable to fulfill his duties. Given his extensive law enforcement background, Bettison will oversee all enforcement-related activities in the city, from police to blight enforcement and more.  His key areas of focus will be:

  • Fire Department
  • Emergency management and homeland security
  • Building Safety, Engineering & Environmental enforcement
  • Community and Faith Based Affairs
  • Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity
  • Government affairs

Throughout his career at DPD, Bettison has been one of the fastest rising members of the department. He first started with DPD in 1994 as a patrol officer. Within five years, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and just one year later to the rank of lieutenant, each time scoring the highest of any candidate in the department.  Bettison’s rapid rise continued as he was promoted to the ranks of Inspector, Captain, Commander and eventually Deputy Chief in 2017.

Bettison thanked Mayor Duggan for this opportunity to serve the city at a new level.

“I truly believe in servant leadership and being given this opportunity means I’ll be able to serve the people of the City of Detroit in new ways and in new areas,” Bettison said. “There is so much more we can accomplish for the people of this city if we are able to find common ground with those members of the community that disagree with us. I believe the best solutions are the ones developed collaboratively.”

Bettison holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wayne State University in Criminal Justice and a Graduate Business Certificate from the Mike Ilitch School of Business. He is also a graduate of Eastern Michigan University's Staff and Command and Oakland University's Six Sigma/Lean Management Certification-Green Belt Program.

 

Deputy.Mayor.Bettison
Todd Bettison, Detroit's new Deputy Mayor, effective May 23rd