Ex-Detroit Police Officer Sentenced To Prison For Taking Bribes

DETROIT — A former Detroit Police officer was sentenced to prison after extorting thousands of dollars in bribes from an unidentified towing contractor, who was actually working undercover for the FBI, federal officials announced Tuesday.

Daniel Vickers, 56, of Livonia, was ordered to serve 27 months in prison, the harshest punishment so far for anyone convicted in the ongoing public corruption scandal, known as "Operation Northern Hook."

Vickers pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy in October, one year after he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of bribery and bribery conspiracy.

Prosecutors said Vickers accepted over $3,400 in bribe payments from the unidentified towing company between February 2018, and June 2018.

"This former officer’s actions are completely unacceptable for anyone who is sworn to protect and serve our city as a Detroit Police officer," Detroit Police Chief James White said in a statement.

Officials said Vickers conspired with former Detroit police lieutenant John F. Kennedy, who at one point commanded the department’s Public Integrity Unit, a division of the Internal Affairs Division that's responsible for investigating reports of law violations and professional misconduct by police officers and other city employees.

Vickers and Kennedy agreed to accept money and other items of value from the unidentified towing contractor disguised as federal officials in exchange for favoring a towing contractor, officials said.

In addition to making illegal tow referrals, Vickers and Kennedy also agreed to provide the towing company that Kennedy was investigating with confidential information about the status of the Public Integrity Unit’s case.

The bribes included thousands of dollars in cars, car parts, car repairs and new carpeting for Vickers’ home, officials said.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy in August 2022, and he will be sentenced on April 18, 2023.

Prosecutors said Kennedy accepted bribes amounting to $14,950 during the course of the conspiracy from October 2018 and March 2021.

"Any police officer who chooses the path of corruption should understand that we will not tolerate unethical conduct from our public officials at any level," U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement.

Northern Hook is an investigation of corruption within the government and the Police Department of the City of Detroit relating to the towing industry and other matters. So far, six defendants have been charged in the probe.