Linda D. Bernard

She maintained that nothing she had done was "illegal, immoral or unethical" despite accepting campaign funds from a recently-released felon convicted of bribing public officials in her jurisdiction.

Linda Bernard is a member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, serving multiple terms including re-election in 2021.

Towing Industry Connections

In December 2021, Bernard was removed from her position on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners' towing committee following statements she made defending convicted felon Gasper Fiore. The controversy centered around her acceptance of a $1,750 campaign donation from Fiore in 2020, the same year he was released from prison after being convicted of bribing public officials.

When questioned about accepting money from a convicted felon, Bernard stated "No, I don't [have a problem with it]" and attempted to minimize the seriousness of bribery by declaring "There are crimes, and then there are super crimes." She also praised Fiore, stating "I do respect Gasper because he's a hardworking man who wears, as I said, I've never seen him without muddy boots."

The comments prompted criticism from fellow commissioner Willie Bell, who stated he was "really bothered" by Bernard's dismissive attitude toward bribery. Public concern led to calls questioning why a commissioner was minimizing corruption.

After her removal from the committee, Bernard characterized media coverage as "fake news" while acknowledging she had accepted the campaign donation. She maintained that nothing she had done was "illegal, immoral or unethical" despite accepting campaign funds from a recently-released felon convicted of bribing public officials in her jurisdiction.

Despite her removal from the towing committee in 2021, Bernard won re-election to another 4-year term on the Board of Police Commissioners.

Failure to Review Critical Oversight Documents

In June 2022, Bernard admitted she had failed to read a critical 210-page report detailing systemic corruption in the Detroit Police Department's Major Violators Unit, despite the report being delivered to commissioners in November 2021. When confronted about her lack of oversight, she stated "I couldn't discuss it because I didn't really know anything about it" and "I need someone to help me with this because it's quite a bit of material."

The report detailed serious allegations including:

• Failed tracking of over $1.3 million in cash and dozens of paid informants over a decade
• Officers using an informant fund as an "open checkbook"
• Falsified search warrant affidavits
• Release of hundreds of drug dealers back into Detroit neighborhoods
• Evidence of fraud, forgery and perjury

The report Bernard failed to review was described by investigators as "the most in-depth intra-departmental investigative inquiry in recent Department history" and led to recommendations for dozens of policy changes. The investigation implicated nearly half of the 31 officers serving in the city's Major Violators Unit.

When questioned about her lack of review in June 2022, Bernard stated "I couldn't discuss it because I didn't really know anything about it, although apparently the report was generated in November 2021." She admitted having the report in front of her for the first time during the interview, saying "I need someone to help me with this because it's quite a bit of material."

Unauthorized Committee Appointments

In February 2024, as chair of the Policy Committee, Bernard attempted to unilaterally appoint non-elected individuals to her committee without board approval or legal authority. Among her appointments was Victoria Shah, who had resigned as board secretary in December 2023.

Bernard announced these appointments as established fact, stating "We have initiated a new program now where we have community members as also members of the committee." The move prompted intervention from BOPC Chair QuanTez Pressley, who noted Bernard had not consulted other commissioners. The board's acting attorney later clarified that Bernard lacked authority to make such appointments, as committee chairs can only appoint sitting commissioners to their committees.

Officer Promotions

In March 2023, Bernard attracted additional scrutiny for her role in the unanimous approval promoting an officer who had accumulated 33 citizen complaints and 17 instances of discipline, including accusations of domestic violence from three different women. During the promotion ceremony, Bernard "offered [her] personal and professional assistance to each and every one of those officers being promoted," according to public comments at a subsequent board meeting, raising concerns about her judgment in supporting officers with troubled histories. When questioned about the decision, she defended the promotion by saying she trusts the chief's recommendations, stating "If you have confidence in your CEO, then you approve the persons that he or she wants to promote."

In February 2024, Bernard made multiple statements indicating a concerning approach to police oversight, particularly regarding officer misconduct. When voting on police promotions, she stated that officers "don't have to be squeaky clean" to receive her approval for promotion, adding "As a matter of fact, the person that has no dirt on their uniform never got in the game."