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Bing: 'Next Mayor' Will Choose Detroit Police Chief

DETROIT (WWJ) - The selection of Detroit's next police chief, and the mayor's political future, both appear to be in limbo.

At Wednesday's press conference announcing the Detroit Police Department's restructuring plan, Mayor Dave Bing made it clear that a decision on  a permanent chief will likely not be made until after the city's November election.

Bing said it doesn't make sense to rush the search and, with just 11 months remaining in his term, he was cryptic about his part in that process.

"My reality is whomever is mayor, the next mayor -- whether it's me or somebody else -- really [should] have a lot to say in who the next permanent police Chief is going to be."

"I think it would be extremely difficult to get a search going and find someone by the end of this short term," Bing said.

When asked if he was running for a second term, Bing waved off the question, saying, "This is about the police."

The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, last fall, approved the hiring of two firms to search for a new police chief following the abrupt retirement of Ralph Godbee Jr. Once a group of candidates have been selected the mayor will choose one, but his choice is subject to approval by the Detroit City Council.

Godbee left his post in early October amid a sex scandal involving an alleged affair with an internal affairs officer. Assistant Chief Chester Logan has since taken over as interim chief.

The new chief is expected to be paid an annual salary of $85,700 to $140,500.

RELATED: Detroit Police Chief Godbee Retires Amid Sex Scandal

Ex-Police Chief Shames Detroit Cops, Says Department Is Out Of Control

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