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‘I did nothing wrong’ and won’t resign, Bettison says amid police board support vote

September 17, 2026

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison is under investigation by the Office of Inspector General after calling activist Jahdante Smith to request removal of controversial photos involving Mayor Mary Sheffield from social media. Smith refused to take down the photos and was later detained by police who seized his phone in what authorities claim was an unrelated case, though Smith alleges retaliation. The Board of Police Commissioners voted to formally support Bettison despite the ongoing investigation, raising concerns about the civilian oversight body's ability to maintain impartiality.

Who is affected

  • Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison (subject of investigation)
  • Activist Jahdante Smith (detained, phone seized)
  • Mayor Mary Sheffield (subject of social media photos)
  • Marvin Walker, Sheffield's former boyfriend (subject of photos, also under investigation)
  • The Board of Police Commissioners
  • Detroit residents seeking police accountability
  • The Office of Inspector General
  • Detroit Police Department personnel

What action is being taken

  • The Office of Inspector General is conducting an investigation into Bettison and his actions related to social media posts
  • The Detroit Police Department has transferred all cases involving Jahdante Smith and Marvin Walker to an outside law enforcement agency
  • The FBI's Detroit office has been referred the public corruption aspects of the case
  • The Board of Police Commissioners is maintaining its support of Bettison

Why it matters

  • This situation raises critical concerns about police accountability and potential abuse of power in Detroit. The incident threatens the integrity of civilian oversight, as the Board of Police Commissioners voted to support the chief while he's under investigation rather than maintaining neutrality. The case highlights potential conflicts of interest when law enforcement leaders have personal connections to political figures, and whether police authority might be used to suppress criticism or protect elected officials. The involvement of the FBI and transfer of cases to outside agencies suggests serious concerns about the impartiality of Detroit's justice system.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com