Detroit Police Chief Reverses Decision to Terminate Officers Over Border Patrol Coordination
In a surprising turn of events, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison has retracted his initial decision to terminate two officers who allegedly violated department policy by collaborating with federal Border Patrol agents—a move that led to the detention of two immigrants. The decision follows a unanimous vote by Detroit’s police oversight board to impose a 30-day suspension without pay on the officers involved.
Chief Bettison stated, “I am satisfied with the Board’s decision, and I will not be pursuing termination of these two officers.” This statement marked a significant change from his earlier stance, where he had sought the officers’ dismissal.
A Detroit police spokeswoman has yet to provide additional details regarding the matter. The shift in decision comes after one of the suspended officers, Sgt. Denise Wallet, a 27-year veteran of the department, initiated legal action against the city to prevent further disciplinary measures, including potential termination.
In her lawsuit, Wallet contends that department rules curbing communication with federal immigration authorities contravene Section 1373 of Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which prohibits state or local entities from restricting communication with federal immigration officials. For more details on the lawsuit, read the full story here.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have also weighed in on the controversy via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. ICE expressed support for the officers, stating, “It’s absurd that two Detroit police officers would face punishment for alerting CBP about a criminal illegal alien — they are American heroes who chose public safety first.” Additionally, ICE encouraged individuals to join their ranks via a recruitment link: http://JOIN.ICE.GOV.
At a recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Bettison had initially disclosed the alleged coordination. He requested a vote to suspend the officers without pay and expressed his intent to terminate them. The incident on February 9 involved Wallet calling Border Patrol for translation services during a traffic stop. According to Bettison, Border Patrol then conducted an investigation and detained an individual determined to be a non-citizen.
The lawsuit filed by Wallet presents a different narrative. It claims she contacted Border Patrol under a supervising lieutenant’s orders due to issues verifying the identity of a person with a fraudulent driver’s license, not for translation services. The lawsuit further argues that Wallet’s actions were aligned with lawful enforcement duties and that her comments criticizing department policy were protected by the First Amendment.
A separate incident on December 16, 2025, was also highlighted by Bettison. This case involved another officer who contacted Border Patrol while investigating a felony warrant. The officer believed the individual was not a U.S. citizen, prompting the involvement of federal agents who subsequently detained the person.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has expressed her support for Bettison’s revised decision. “The Mayor, like the Chief, believes the (Board of Police Commissioners) understood the gravity of the officers violating a longstanding departmental policy and took appropriate action by voting unanimously to suspend them without pay for 30 days,” stated mayoral spokesman John Roach. The mayor respects both the authority of the BOPC on disciplinary matters and Chief Bettison’s stance on the Board’s actions.
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