Linda D. Bernard
Linda Bernard is a member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, serving multiple terms including re-election in 2021.[1]
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.[1] 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.[1]
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."[1] 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."[1]
The comments prompted criticism from fellow commissioner Willie Bell, who stated he was "really bothered" by Bernard's dismissive attitude toward bribery.[1] Public concern led to calls questioning why a commissioner was minimizing corruption.[1]
After her removal from the committee, Bernard characterized media coverage as "fake news" while acknowledging she had accepted the campaign donation.[1] 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.[1]
Despite her removal from the towing committee in 2021, Bernard won re-election to another 4-year term on the Board of Police Commissioners.[1]
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.[2] Among her appointments was Victoria Shah, who had resigned as board secretary in December 2023.[2]
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."[2] The move prompted intervention from BOPC Chair QuanTez Pressley, who noted Bernard had not consulted other commissioners.[2] 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.[2]
Officer Promotion Controversy
In March 2023, Bernard attracted additional scrutiny for her role in the unanimous approval of promoting Officer Lemuel Sims to sergeant, despite his history of domestic violence accusations from three different women and 33 citizen complaints.[3] 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.[3]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Jones, Ross. "Detroit Police commissioner removed from towing committee after downplaying bribery." WXYZ Detroit, December 24, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Herberg, Laura. "BOPC Watch: Commissioner tries to add unelected police insiders to committee. Chair says not so fast." Outlier Media, February 12, 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jones, Ross. "'This is embarrassing.' Commissioners vow more scrutiny after troubled cop's promotion." WXYZ Detroit, March 31, 2023.