Detroit Police Chief James Craig (Deadline Detroit photo)
In what appears to be an added vote of confidence, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Friday that Police Chief James Craig will carry out the duties of mayor in his absence or if he's ill.
Duggan made the announcement in a press release, while at the same time stating that he will not name a replacement for Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon, a former Detroit Police Chief, who plans to retire at the end of the month and return to teaching at the University of Detroit Mercy.
“My focus will remain 100% on managing the Police Department and reducing the level of violence in this city,” Craig said in a statement. “It’s rare that Mayor Duggan is ever unavailable, but I do appreciate his confidence in designating me to act as mayor if the situation should ever arise.”
Duggan said it appeared that he had no need to name a replacement for McKinnon, 72, who has kept a relatively low public profile in the administration.
“Our current management team is stable and functioning well,” Duggan said in a statement. “I don’t see a reason to bring in another high-level employee if it isn’t necessary.”
The release said that the Detroit City Charter requires that an official be designated to exercise the powers of mayor in the event the mayor is absent from the city or temporarily disabled. The charter allows the mayor to designate a “director of a department of the executive branch as the deputy mayor.”
Duggan filed paperwork with the City Clerk on Friday designating Craig as the go-to guy to serve as acting mayor.
“Chief Craig remains the full-time police chief. His day-to-day duties will not change, and his pay will not change. He will be entirely focused on running the Police Department,” Duggan said. “However, should an emergency arise when I am out of the city or incapacitated, Chief Craig is the person legally designated as deputy mayor who will exercise the powers and duties of the mayor during any absence.”
Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr hired Craig in 2013 while Dave Bing was mayor.
When Orr was about to leave town, rumors in the police department circulated that Duggan would replace Craig. That didn't happen.
Duggan has in public repeatedly praised Craig, who has been credited with making improvements in the department and raising morale while managing to avoid a major scandal like some of his predecessors.
