DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit Police Chief James White has confirmed to 7 News Detroit that he is applying for a job with a Detroit nonprofit.
White has applied to be the head of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.
He told our Carolyn Clifford that he will step down from his role as chief if he gets the job.
"It’s an extremely important role at a critical time for Detroit and Wayne County. We continue to have a mental health crisis in our community that needs to be addressed at multiple levels," White said in a statement.
He added that he wants to respect the process by not saying anything further.
"As the process continues, I am fully committed to serving as Detroit’s Police Chief," he said.
White was appointed chief on June 1, 2021, and was officially confirmed by Detroit City Council on Sept. 21, 2021. He took over after former Detroit Police Chief James Craig retired.
“We’ve seen significant crime reduction due in large part to relationships with our community," White said during his weekly Walk a Mile Wednesday.
White emphasized the importance of building a culture and working with the community.
“You’re talking about policing a million people. You’re not going to do that with 3,000 cops," he said. "You need the cooperation of the community. That comes with trust and understanding and the role of policing within the community.”
Programs like Shot Stoppers leveraged trust and has awarded contracts to those helping lower crime involving shootings. Much of what's been achieved was brokered by White's own reputation.
“The relationship with the community — very important. Approach people right, so they respond the right way,” one citizen said.
Before becoming chief, White had led the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and returned to the department where he had been an assistant chief since 2009.
According to DPD, White joined the department in January 1996 and served in a variety of leadership positions during his tenure with the department.
He's a Detroit native and graduated from Wayne State University and Central Michigan University, where he became a licensed mental health counselor.
In July, DWIHN's board named Manny Singla as interim CEO after former CEO Eric Doeh announced he was stepping down in June. The organization then began a national search for a new CEO.
DWIHN provides health services for more than 120,000 people in Detroit and Wayne County.
White has been a huge advocate for deploying mental health experts to scenes, which is something Detroiters like Sandra Turner-Handy say must continue. She admits she fears losing momentum if White takes another role.
“Change in leadership creates a problem of trust in relationship building,” Turner-Handy said. "A lot of what goes on is from mental health challenges.”
Pastor Mo Hardwick has also helped break down barriers for more than 15 years, but he's confident White's impact won't be lost if he leaves. He said it's important that people respect each other.
"Listen, this is a town like the Lions with grit. We pair well together. No one is the one-man star on this team,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick believes the police department has several strong candidates within their ranks.
