Detroit chief changes course, will not fire cops in immigration cases

February 20, 2026

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison has decided not to terminate two officers who contacted federal Border Patrol agents, contrary to department policy, after the city's police oversight board suspended them without pay instead. The controversy centers on two separate incidents where officers coordinated with immigration authorities—one involving a traffic stop where translation services were requested, and another during a felony warrant investigation. One suspended officer, a 27-year veteran sergeant, has filed a lawsuit claiming the department's restrictions on communicating with federal immigration officials violate federal law that prohibits such limitations.

Who is affected

Two Detroit police officers (including Sgt. Denise Wallet, a 27-year department veteran)
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield
Individuals detained by Border Patrol during the incidents (including one person stopped on Feb. 9 and another during a Dec. 16, 2025 felony warrant investigation)
The Detroit Police Department
Federal Border Patrol agents
Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement

What action is being taken

The two officers are suspended without pay for 30 days
Sgt. Denise Wallet is suing the city in federal court to block further discipline
Chief Bettison is no longer pursuing termination of the officers

Why it matters

This case highlights the tension between local police policies designed to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and federal laws requiring such cooperation. The incident raises significant questions about municipal authority to restrict officer communication with federal agencies, officer free speech rights, and the balance between local community trust and federal immigration enforcement. The public support from federal immigration agencies and the legal challenge suggest this could set a precedent affecting how sanctuary-style policies are implemented and enforced in police departments nationwide.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com