Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network appoints Detroit police chief as CEO
Detroit Police Chief James White is expected to leave his post as the city's top cop to become the next CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.
During its Wednesday meeting, the group's board of directors named White as the CEO and President of the network and authorized officials to enter into contract negotiations with White for the job. While one board member abstained from voting, all 11 other members voted in favor of White's appointment.
"I'm very humbled and honored for this board's trust in me. I look forward to this journey ahead. I know it will be challenging, but I'm excited. We have a good team here, and I'm excited to roll up my sleeves and make an impact," White said after the board approved the resolution.
White is set to enter contract negotiations with the board of directors' chairperson, Cynthia Taueg, to finalize an employment agreement at the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN). The agreement will then need to be approved by the full board.
"We are very pleased with the choice of Mr. White to continue leading DWIHN and we feel confident that he is the right person for the critical job of leading this organization as we enter this next phase of growth to help our region's most vulnerable citizens," Taueg, said.
Mayor Mike Duggan's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It remains unclear when White's last day with the DPD will be.
In September, White confirmed with the Free Press that he applied for the CEO position at DWIHN. He said he believes there is a mental health crisis in Detroit and Wayne County that "needs to be addressed at multiple levels."
White was one of two final candidates narrowed down from over 60 applicants, according to the board. The finalists were both interviewed on Monday before White was recommended by the CEO search committee as the candidate of choice.
The search for a new CEO began in June after Eric Doeh stepped down. Manny Singla, previously the network's executive vice president of operations, was then named interim CEO.
White was appointed as Detroit's police chief in June 2021 after ex-chief James Craig announced his retirement. Throughout White's tenure as chief, he has repeatedly called for mental health services for Detroiters. White has also collaborated with the health network, that he is now leading, on crisis intervention training for officers and mental health professionals.
"(There's) a lot to be done in the world of mental health, and I'm excited to be a part of it," White said on Wednesday. "It's something that I'm educated in and passionate about, and it's the next place that I think I can make an impact."
White has been with the Detroit police since January 1996, according to the city . He brought a distinctive background to his role as police chief, as he is also a licensed mental health counselor. In 2020, before assuming his position as Detroit's top cop, he served as the head of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
The health network serves about 123,000 children and adults in Detroit and Wayne County, according to its website. The network supports those "with serious mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, people with autism, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those with substance use disorder."
Previous reporting by Andrea May Sahouri contributed to this story
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