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]