Warren Evans

Warren Evans, who served as Wayne County Sheriff and Detroit Police Chief before becoming Wayne County Executive, faced several controversies during his career in public service.

Detroit Police Chief Tenure and Resignation (2009-2010)

Mobile Strike Force

During his tenure as Detroit Police Chief in 2009-2010, Warren Evans implemented an aggressive policing strategy reviving elements of the "STRESS" (Stop the Robberies, Enjoy Safe Streets) program, which had been controversial in Detroit's history during the 1970s. Under Evans' leadership, a Mobile Strike Force was created that was directed by Evans to use any legal violation, including minor infractions like jaywalking, as pretexts to search for weapons and drugs. The policy included ordering his Mobile Strike Force to conduct extensive traffic stops in "high-crime areas" for even small violations, hoping to find unregistered guns. Particularly controversial was a memo from Inspector Eric Jones threatening "WRITTEN progressive discipline" for officers who didn't make enough traffic stops, which critics argued amounted to an illegal quota system.

Evans' approach faced growing criticism for its "military-style" tactics. The department made extensive use of SWAT teams and special response units carrying submachine guns and military-grade equipment. This militarization trend was part of a broader post-9/11 shift in American policing, enabled by federal homeland security grants that provided military surplus equipment to local departments. The approach drew criticism from civil rights advocates. The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality reported increased civilian complaints and warned about deteriorating police-community relations. The coalition reported a 67% increase in weekly complaint calls, and citizen complaints to the Police Commission rose 10% in the second half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

After the police killing of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a SWAT raid, Mayor Dave Bing publicly declared he would be "reigning in" Evans' aggressive tactics.

Police Killing of Aiyana Stanley-Jones

On May 16, 2010, during a raid filmed by TV crews for A&E's "The First 48", seven-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was fatally shot by Officer Joseph Weekley of the Detroit Police Special Response Team while she slept on a couch in her home. The raid, which occurred shortly after midnight, began with officers throwing a flash-bang grenade through the window of the lower unit where Aiyana was sleeping. The incident drew criticism over both the aggressive tactics used and the presence of TV cameras, with some suggesting the TV crew's presence may have influenced the operation's execution. Evans was criticized for allowing cameras to accompany police during dangerous operations, with a high-ranking Detroit police official quoted as saying "It is not protocol...I've never used a flash-bang in a case like this." The case was later settled with the family for $8.25 million in 2019.

"The Chief"

The most prominent issue involved his participation in a promotional video for a proposed reality TV show called "The Chief." The video showed Evans carrying weapons and promoting an aggressive law enforcement style. Then-Mayor Dave Bing cited this video as inappropriate and a factor in requesting Evans' resignation.

• Carrying military-style weapons
• Conducting raids
• Making dramatic statements about fighting crime
• Portraying an aggressive, TV-style approach to policing

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The video's tone and content were criticized as inappropriate for a sitting police chief and potentially compromising to police operations. When the video became public, it created significant political backlash.

Relationship with Subordinate

Evans faced scrutiny over his romantic relationship with Lieutenant Monique Patterson, a subordinate officer in the department. This relationship raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and professional conduct. Evans had a publicly acknowledged relationship with Lt. Patterson while serving as Police Chief. Evans was notably absent when 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed by his force. Photos on Facebook showed him vacationing in Barbados with Patterson just two days after the shooting, drawing criticism for the timing of his trip during a major departmental crisis[3].

While this relationship reportedly did not violate city rules, it contributed to his forced resignation in July 2010[1].

The situation became more complex after Evans was fired when he and his attorney Mark Zausmer attempted revealed that Patterson had previously been involved with Ralph Godbee, who succeeded Evans as interim chief[2]. Evans' team presented Deputy Mayor Saul Green with text messages showing that Godbee had previously had a relationship with Patterson and had allegedly promised to help advance her career[1], suggesting Evans should be rehired[4]. Evans and his attorney attempted to use their knowledge of Godbee's previous relationship with Patterson to negotiate Evans' return to a city position.

This strategy ultimately backfired. Godbee acknowledged the texts but characterized Evans' actions as a misuse of the messages "to strike a deal with the city of Detroit"[4]. Mayor Bing strongly rejected Evans' attempt to leverage this information, stating that "Failed attempts of personal gain at the expense of the police department and city at-large are unfortunate"[5].

References: [1] Jonathan Oosting, "Text message scandal 2.0: Detroit Police Chief apologizes for 'personal' texts", MLive, August 11, 2010 [2] Staff Writer, "Acting Detroit police chief also in affair", The Columbus Dispatch, August 12, 2010 [3] Jonathan Oosting, MLive, August 11, 2010 [4] Jonathan Oosting, MLive, August 11, 2010 [5] Jonathan Oosting, MLive, August 11, 2010

References: [1] Aaron Foley, "Photos of the day: Ex-Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans' love affairs with camera, coworkers", MLive, July 22, 2010 [2] Jonathan Oosting, "Text message scandal 2.0: Detroit Police Chief apologizes for 'personal' texts", MLive, August 11, 2010 [3] Aaron Foley, MLive, July 22, 2010 [4] Staff Writer, "Acting Detroit police chief also in affair", The Columbus Dispatch, August 12, 2010 [5] Jonathan Oosting, MLive, August 11, 2010

In July 2010, Evans resigned as Detroit Police Chief after approximately one year in the position.

As before his Detroit Police Chief role, Evans faced criticism over departmental spending and management practices.