Detroit’s interim police chief, Todd Bettison, has addressed the public regarding the controversy surrounding the October stop of Detroit Lions wide receiver
Jameson Williams. Bettison acknowledged that while he personally would have arrested Williams on that night, he was comfortable with the decision made by supervisors to release him.This decision followed a thorough internal affairs investigation into the incident, which raised questions about whether the police officers involved gave Williams special treatment due to his status as a professional athlete.
The internal investigation, now concluded, found no evidence of any malicious intent or efforts to cover up the situation or offer Williams preferential treatment.
Bettison emphasized that there was no evidence of favoritism, despite speculation that the Lions player may have received special handling because of his fame.
“The investigation didn’t reveal any sort of cover-up or preferential treatment,” Bettison said in a statement.
“But there were policy violations, and at least one officer is facing suspension.”
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of October 8, when Williams and his brother were pulled over for speeding. During the stop, officers discovered a gun at Williams’ feet, which was legally registered in his name.
However, Williams did not have a concealed pistol license, which is required in Michigan to carry a concealed weapon.
The officers on the scene initially handcuffed Williams and intended to take him to the Detroit Detention Center.
However, the situation took a turn when a sergeant arrived at the scene, evaluated the situation, and called a lieutenant for further guidance.
After discussing the matter with the lieutenant, it was decided that Williams would be released.
The lieutenant believed that the concealed pistol license (CPL) held by Williams’ brother covered the guns found in the vehicle, which led to the decision not to pursue charges.
However, a key point of contention was that the officers did not file the required warrant with the prosecutor’s office, as is customary in such cases.
According to Commander Michael McGinnis, this was an oversight, and officers were instructed to submit the warrant afterward.
Later, in November, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that no charges would be brought against Williams for the gun found in his vehicle.
This decision put to rest any concerns about criminal charges stemming from the incident. But it also raised the question of whether, had Williams not been a high-profile player, he would have been treated the same way.
Bettison addressed this concern in a candid interview.
“If it had been John Smith in the passenger seat instead of Jameson Williams, would the same decisions have been made? It’s hard to say,” Bettison responded.
He admitted that “everybody knows somebody” in Detroit, acknowledging that citizens, including himself, often have contact with police officers during their interactions.
Bettison shared that people from the community have his personal phone number and occasionally reach out to him during police encounters. In such cases, his advice is always to comply with officers and request a supervisor’s presence if there are concerns.
He noted that Williams’ situation may have been influenced by the involvement of a supervisor who was familiar with the player’s name.
Bettison also noted that one of the officers involved in the stop was a fan of the Lions, and he recognized Williams when he arrived on the scene.
The sergeant, who had the Lions logo as his cellphone wallpaper, was reportedly upset about the situation and voiced his frustration with the officers involved.
However, Bettison clarified that the sergeant’s comment, “I’m so mad at you two,” was likely a joke, and that his concerns about arresting Williams were raised before he knew who he was.
Bettison concluded that the sergeant’s fandom had no bearing on how Williams was treated.
While Bettison was confident that no special treatment was given to Williams, the investigation uncovered several procedural violations. One of the most serious issues involved an officer who turned off his body camera during the stop.
Another issue was that the lieutenant made the decision to release Williams over the phone, rather than coming to the scene in person. Both of these actions violated department protocols and will result in disciplinary action.
Bettison also addressed a discrepancy in information shared with the media.
Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes had stated in an interview with Channel 7 News that only one gun was found in Williams’ vehicle when, in fact, there were two.
Bettison explained that Hayes had been unprepared for the interview and should have reviewed the body camera footage before speaking to reporters.
This error raised concerns about the accuracy of information shared with the media, particularly when it came to Hayes’ understanding of the facts surrounding the stop.
When asked about comments Hayes made during a phone interview with Channel 7, Bettison explained that Hayes had misrepresented the facts regarding the contact between the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and the Lions organization.
Specifically, Hayes had denied being contacted by anyone from the Lions.
However, the investigation revealed that the head of security for the Lions, a retired DPD sergeant, had called Hayes the night of the incident.
Bettison suggested that Hayes may have been distracted during the interview, which could explain the confusion. Hayes himself denied any intent to mislead the public, claiming that he believed he had called the Lions first.
Bettison expressed confidence in Hayes’ integrity, stating that he had never known the deputy chief to be dishonest.
However, Bettison also made it clear that Hayes’ initial statements were inaccurate, and that the department would be taking steps to address the situation.
Bettison said that he gave Hayes the benefit of the doubt, attributing the error to confusion caused by the presence of a member of the media team during the interview.
The internal investigation also revealed another significant issue: a confrontation between two officers on the scene of the stop.
According to Bettison, a female officer had a heated argument with the officer who initially attempted to arrest Williams. During the exchange, the female officer reportedly used derogatory language, including a homophobic slur.
Bettison confirmed that an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation was underway to address the matter.
The officer involved in the exchange has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Bettison condemned the officer’s behavior, calling the use of such language “disturbing” and unacceptable. “Some very disturbing things were said to one of my officers by another officer,” Bettison said.
He stressed that the DPD was committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment, both for its officers and the public.
As a result of the EEOC investigation, one officer has already been suspended, and further disciplinary measures may be forthcoming.
In conclusion, while the internal affairs investigation into the Jameson Williams stop did not uncover any deliberate misconduct or preferential treatment, it did reveal several procedural failures within the department. Bettison acknowledged these mistakes and pledged to take corrective action.
He also reassured the public that the DPD remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
The case has raised important questions about the intersection of celebrity status and law enforcement, and how officers should handle high-profile individuals in potentially sensitive situations.
Bettison’s comments suggest that while the police department did not intentionally give Williams special treatment, there are clear lessons to be learned from the incident.
The suspension of an officer for misconduct, as well as the ongoing investigation into others involved in the case, demonstrates that the department is taking these issues seriously and working to ensure that similar problems do not arise in the future.
Bettison’s handling of the situation reflects a commitment to transparency and accountability, and the department will likely face further scrutiny as more details emerge.
As the investigation continues, it will be important for the DPD to maintain public trust by addressing the procedural violations and ensuring that all officers are held to the same standard, regardless of the individual involved in the incident.