Written by George Hunter
detroit news
DETROIT — Detroit Police Chief James White has been named president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, Michigan’s largest community behavioral and mental health network, county officials said Wednesday. Announced.
The Mental Health Network’s board of directors unanimously approved White’s appointment, with one abstention, according to a Wednesday press release. White has served as the network’s interim CEO since July, replacing Manny Singla, who previously served as executive vice president of operations, according to the network’s website.
“We are very pleased with Mr. White’s selection to continue to lead DWIHN and the important task he will have in leading this organization as we enter its next phase of growth in supporting our region’s most vulnerable residents.” We are confident that he is the right person to do so,” Board Chair Dr. Cynthia Taweg said in a statement.
White is a licensed mental health therapist and applied for the DWHIN job last month.
It was not immediately clear how long White would remain as secretary or who would replace him. The health network said it would need to work with White on a start date. Calls and text messages sent to city and law enforcement officials were not immediately returned.
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White, a 26-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department, was appointed interim chief in August 2021 after serving as interim chief for two months following the resignation of Chief James Craig, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor. Appointed as the 43rd Chief of the Detroit Police Department. White served as deputy commissioner from 2012 to August 2020, before retiring as commissioner of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
During Mr. White’s tenure as chief, violent crime in the city has decreased year after year, with 14,497 violent incidents in 2021, 12,844 in 2022, and 12,673 violent incidents last year. did. As of Wednesday, violent crime was down 8% in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to Detroit Police Department statistics.
Detroit recorded 252 criminal homicides in 2023, the lowest number since 1966. This year, as of Wednesday, there were 171 homicides in the city, an 18.6% decrease compared to 210 homicides during the same period in 2023.
White was appointed interim chief in May 2021 after serving as deputy chief for several years. Among the first challenges White faced was the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in June 2021, so he and Mayor Mike Duggan developed a five-point plan to achieve their next goals. Announced. They are cracking down on loud “party atmospheres” in neighborhoods and parks that often lead to shootings.
Mr. White also focused on enforcing drag racing and drifting laws and ensuring that businesses were licensed and complied with city ordinances.
In 2023, following a bloody weekend in April that saw six mass shootings in Greektown and the River Walk, White addressed outbreaks of violence at large crowds, loud parties and drag racing. A 12-point plan was launched to achieve this goal. Downtown crime decreased that summer, and in 2024, police and city officials did not hold a press conference about violence in Greektown for the first time in five years.
Warm weather violence reignited in July 2024 with a series of incidents at block parties. Among them was a July 7 shootout between gang members on Via Rossini on the city’s east side, which left two people dead and 19 injured, making it the deadliest mass shooting incident. in Michigan history.
Despite the incident, police officials announced that violent crime decreased for the second year in a row over the summer.
During White’s tenure, mental health-related calls have surged due to the coronavirus pandemic and other factors. Detroit police officers are making an average of 40 mental health-related patrols a day through July 2023, up from 20 a day in 2020, according to police department statistics.
In December 2022, White overhauled the department’s crisis intervention team program, creating a dedicated mental health staff, centralizing operations, equipping team personnel with “softer” uniforms and Equipped with less-lethal weapons such as bag shotguns and Bolar Wraps. This is a hand-held device that releases a cord that wraps around a person’s arms or legs to restrain them.
Detroit Police Commission Chairman Darryl Woods said White did a “phenomenal job” walking with residents throughout the city and giving them a chance to talk about: , praised the outgoing chief’s “Walk a Mile Wednesday” program. Departmental or Aviation Complaints.
“He was a community-driven chief who was sensitive to the civil liberties of his residents,” Woods said. “I look forward to the same compassionate leadership from the next chief.”
Police Chief Willie Barton said White did an average job.
“While I don’t always agree with Chief White, I wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Barton said in a text message. “I had hoped that (he) would do more to make the department responsive to the needs of the people. … I cannot rate his performance above a C-plus.” ”
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