Candidate Profile: Willie E. Bell, Detroit Police Commissioner

DETROIT — Voters in Detroit will vote for the fourth district's police commissioner in November's general elections.

To help readers make informed choices, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Willie E. Bell is running against Scotty Boman for the fourth district's police commissioner. Here's how he filled out his profile:

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Age (as of Election Day)

77

Position Sought

Detroit Police Commissioner

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

Naice Bell- wife, Ashanti Bell Patterson ( Kevin Patterson)- daughter Ayobami Bell Torrence (Adam Torrence) - daughter Anaiya and Adriel - grandkids

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Yes

Education

BA,Central Michigan

Occupation

Retired DPD Lieutenant

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Police Commissioner

Campaign website

N/a

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking re-election because of my years of experience, and because I stand on truth and integrity. As a black man who grew up on the eastside of Detroit, 40+ year East English Village resident with my family and now grandchildren, I remain committed to public safety and serving the best interest of my community in District 4.

I led the initiative in police reform within the DPD and helped create the motto “Accountability through Civilian Oversight.” My passion for effective, community policing and crime prevention has never waned. As a retired officer, National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) board member, and current commissioner, I have always fought to hold law enforcement accountable and one of my top priorities is impacting the disciplinary actions of officers.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The issue is disciplinary action, and I am advocating that the new contract with the police unions address this issue. The Board is currently not involved with disciplinary actions. This is contrary to what is mandated in the city charter. Therefore, I will remain vocal in asking the mayor to follow the charter mandate to give the Board final authority in this area.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am more qualified because of my years of experience as a commissioner and in leadership. My peers elected me as chair and vice-chair more than four times over several years and during different board compositions. I am also currently the only commissioner who has ever served on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE). I am passionate about serving the people of the City of Detroit and remain committed to public safety and civilian oversight.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

N/a

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

N/a

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Crime remains a major challenge in Detroit. There must be a strong approach to addressing these street crimes. We need more police officers and must maintain the officers with better pay and benefits. In addition to enforcing proper disciplinary actions, I also encourage community participation with the Board to ensure that the officers serve all communities with fairness and equality.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a police officer, I was a founding member of the Concerned Police Officers for Equal Justice (CPOEJ). It was created to address community concerns for unjust treatment by police officers as well as advocate for affirmative action hiring and promoting African-Americans within the department.

I am a past recipient of the Spirit Of Detroit award for my involvement with the Guardians Police Association. An organization black officers with primarily the same goals and objectives as the CPOEJ.

As mentioned, I am also the only commissioner who has served on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Civilian Oversight.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always stand up for rights and never be afraid to speak out against injustice or wrong doings.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a US Army veteran. I spent 32 years with the DPD fighting crime and working to make the department more accountable to the people it served. This includes being a founding member of the Concerned Police Officers for Equal Justice.

I also served as president The Guardians of Michigan and as chair of the Midwest and national chapters of the National Black Police Association.

I am an advocate for professionalism in law enforcement and I have a history of fighting for civil rights, community representation, and public accountability.