Esteemed former Detroit cop emphasizes teamwork, safety
 Ken Cockrel Jr. (right) who becomes mayor today, introduces James Barren (left) as the new chief of police in Detroit. (AP Photo) |
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By Ben Schmitt, Bill McGraw and Zachary Gorchow
The Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — New Detroit Police Chief James Barren told supporters today that he’s ready to hit the streets – tonight.
Incoming Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. today introduced Barren, a 31-year veteran of the police department, as the replacement for Ella Bully-Cummings.
A group of about 25 supporters burst into applause when Cockrel made the announcement.
“It’s no secret that public safety and the safety of our city are among my top priorities,” Cockrel said. “Our challenge is to also run a leaner and more efficient police department. We need to work hard to restore faith and trust and integrity back to the police department and to the great people of this city.”
Barren, who has a Ph.D. in counseling from Wayne State University, said he’s up to the challenge.
“I’m ready to get to work to restore public faith,” Barren said. “I believe in leading from the front. We’re one team and I’ll be out there with them. And I look forward to maybe, hopefully getting out there tonight.”
Barren is known to be popular among the ranks of the police department.
He currently runs a counterterrorism training center.
“He’s a great individual and a tremendous leader,” said Assistant Chief Ralph Godbee. “He’s a cop’s cop and he’s very well respected.”
Godbee worked with Barren as part of former Mayor Dennis Archer’s security detail.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him,” Godbee said. “He’s very no-nonsense.”
Former Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown, who was rumored to be a candidate, said he supports Barren.
“I wish him luck,” Brown said. “He’s got a big challenge ahead of him. He needs all the support Detroiters can give him.”
Retired Lt. Charlie Maisano, who worked under Barren, showed up at today’s news conference to show his support.
“He’s the guy for the job,” Maisano said. “He knows people, he knows what needs to be done. He’s the one you want.”
Cockrel said announcing the new chief would be his lone staff announcement today. He said he is still talking with a potential candidate for chief of staff and that post is not yet finalized.
Letters are going out today via hand delivery to department directors and other top appointees of resigning Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick letting them know they either are reappointed or unappointed, Cockrel said.
But Cockrel, who has said he would take a surgical approach as opposed to a wholesale housecleaning, said he won’t necessarily replace even the appointees most closely identified with Kilpatrick.
“I don’t think you can necessarily paint somebody with a broad brush of they’re evil or not worth keeping because of who they worked for,” he said.
On Wednesday, Cockrel named former U.S. Attorney Saul Green as deputy mayor with specific oversight of the Police and Law departments. Cockrel said Green’s experience would be a valuable asset in dealing with federal oversight of the Police Department. Besides serving as U.S. attorney in Detroit in the 1990s, Green is the federal monitor of the Cincinnati Police Department.
Copyright 2008 The Detroit Free Press