Detroit police chief resigns amid affair scandal
DETROIT Detroit police Chief Ralph Godbee resigned from his post on Monday after his affair with an internal affairs officer came to light.
Mayor Dave Bing announced at a press conference the 44-year-old Godbee submitted a letter of retirement, effective immediately, from the job he's held since 2010.
Bing said Godbee told him about his decision to retire after a 25-year career during a meeting Sunday. The mayor said he did not force Godbee to leave but believes "this was the right decision by the chief." Bing said Godbee was "contrite" and "embarrassed."
"Yes, he did apologize ... he felt he let the citizens of Detroit down," Bing said at a news conference.
The former Detroit police chief also apologized for letting the mayor down. He also pledged to still be active in the community, school system, communication colleges and churches, adding his "mission is to continue to work to make this city the best it can be."
"I got to know Chief Godbee well over his tenure and respected him as a person who was very involved in our community, respected in our community," Bing said according to CBS station WWJ-TV in Detroit. "It bothers me, it hurts me a great deal that it has come to this. I worry about him as a person and hope that he is able to get on with his life."
Godbee, who is in the middle of a divorce, has not publicly commented on the revelations of his affair with Angelica Robinson, who is currently married, WWJ-TV said. There was no mention of the scandal in an eight-paragraph letter dated Monday from Godbee to Bing that announced the former chief's retirement. A copy of the letter was released to reporters after the news conference.
Bing placed Godbee on a 30-day suspension last week pending an investigation into the claims by Robinson's attorney that the 37-year-old woman had wanted the relationship to end but that Godbee did not.
At the news conference, Bing said assistant Chief Chester Logan will serve as interim chief. Logan had assumed Godbee's responsibilities during the suspension. Bing said a national search for a new chief is planned.
"I'm humbled, I'm honored," Logan said during the press conference according to the Detroit Free Press. "I'm ready to roll up my sleeve and get started today."
Angelica Robinson's lawyer revealed that she and Godbee had been seeing each other for about a year, but Godbee was upset when she wanted to end the relationship.
Angelica Robinson posted a photo of herself with her service weapon in her mouth on the social media site Twitter after learning Godbee was at a weekend police conference with another woman, attorney David Robinson has said.
He said Godbee had other officers locate Angelica Robinson and put her under surveillance.
Godbee was appointed to the $140,400-a-year job by Bing in 2010. Godbee succeeded former Wayne County sheriff Warren Evans as police chief in 2010.
Bing hired Evans a year earlier, but fired him after he took part in a promotional video for a cable police reality show. Bing later said he also fired Evans because the chief was romantically involved with Lt. Monique Patterson.
Godbee also had a romantic relationship with Patterson before she began dating Evans and when she was Godbee's subordinate. At that time, Bing issued a statement saying he wouldn't fire Godbee for having an affair, WWJ-TV reported.
Godbee joined the department in 1987 and rose to assistant chief in 2007. He later retired only to be reappointed assistant chief in July 2009 when Evans was hired.