PULSE POINTS
WHAT HAPPENED: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison announced that officers accused of working with federal immigration agents will face accountability measures, as part of the city’s effort to maintain its “welcoming” status.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, and unnamed Detroit police officers.
WHEN & WHERE: Incidents occurred on December 16 and February 9; comments were made during a recent hearing in Detroit.
KEY QUOTE: “Of our officers, 98-99 percent do it the right way each and every day. But I do have one or two percent that decide to violate our rules, our policies, and our procedures, and to those officers, I will hold them accountable.” – Todd Bettison
IMPACT: The Detroit Police Department is considering disciplinary action for the officers involved, with a decision expected before February 19.
IN FULL
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison has warned that officers who violate department policy by coordinating with federal immigration authorities will face discipline, reaffirming Detroit’s commitment to maintaining its sanctuary city status. Speaking before the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners last Thursday, Bettison described two incidents that are now under internal review.
The first occurred on December 16, when a Detroit sergeant contacted U.S. Border Patrol after an officer requested translation assistance during a traffic stop involving a non-English-speaking individual. According to Bettison, Border Patrol agents determined the person was not a U.S. citizen and took them into custody.
The second case took place on February 9, when an officer allegedly reached out to Border Patrol while investigating an individual wanted on a felony warrant. Bettison said body-worn camera footage confirmed that federal agents responded and detained the suspect.
Emphasizing departmental standards, Bettison told commissioners, “Of our officers, 98-99 percent do it the right way each and every day. But I do have one or two percent that decide to violate our rules, our policies and our procedures, and to those officers, I will hold them accountable.” The board is expected to determine whether the officers involved will be suspended ahead of a February 19 hearing.
The incidents come amid broader national tensions over cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. In Chicago, police leadership faced criticism after reports that officers were told not to respond to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a confrontation, drawing backlash from law enforcement advocates.
In Minneapolis, the police chief publicly encouraged residents to report masked individuals believed to be ICE agents conducting operations, pledging local intervention if necessary.
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