Barren Turns In Badge, Gun
Police Chief Says He's Still Stunned By Firing
POSTED: Saturday, July 4, 2009
UPDATED: 12:10 pm EDT July 6,2009
DETROIT -- Two hours before Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced Wayne County's Sheriff Warren Evans will take over the Detroit Police Department, former Chief James Barren handed in his badge and gun.Local 4 cameras were the only cameras rolling when Barren entered the precinct on 1300 Beaubian Street for the last time as chief.Barren said he felt like he had been kicked in the stomach after learning he was being fired by the mayor Friday."It kind of stings a little bit," said Barren.Barren said no reason for the firing was given, and he didn't ask.
Detroit Mayor Fires Police Chief"I wasn't really prepared for that at that time. But it came out of nowhere," Barren said Sunday in an interview with Local 4. "I just have to deal with it."Barren said he's not sure if his firing had anything to do with the way he wanted to spend $10 million in federal money. He said he wanted to buy a helicopter and upgrade the department's equipment.Evans' appointment is effective immediately.Assistant Chief Ronald Fleming told reporters Sunday that he would also be leaving the department."My reply to the chief at that time was, 'Well, if you're leaving, I'm leaving,'" Fleming said. "If we can't stay together, we leave together."Fleming said Barren was called into the mayor's office Friday and told by Deputy Mayor Saul Green that the city wants to move in a "different direction.""The progress that we have made has only been up, so I don't know what other direction they would want to go," Fleming said. "The only thing that I think is disappointing is that we were doing a pretty good job, we were doing a very good job." Interim Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. hired Barren to head the department in the nation's 11th-largest city in September. But Bing went on the record right before he was elected as saying he was happy with the Detroit Police Department and intended on keeping Barren on as chief.Cockrel, the City Council president, said he wants an explanation from Bing about the decision."I look forward to having Mayor Bing address the council as to why this decision was made and made so abruptly," Cockrel said in statement.
Detroit Mayor Fires Police Chief"I wasn't really prepared for that at that time. But it came out of nowhere," Barren said Sunday in an interview with Local 4. "I just have to deal with it."Barren said he's not sure if his firing had anything to do with the way he wanted to spend $10 million in federal money. He said he wanted to buy a helicopter and upgrade the department's equipment.Evans' appointment is effective immediately.Assistant Chief Ronald Fleming told reporters Sunday that he would also be leaving the department."My reply to the chief at that time was, 'Well, if you're leaving, I'm leaving,'" Fleming said. "If we can't stay together, we leave together."Fleming said Barren was called into the mayor's office Friday and told by Deputy Mayor Saul Green that the city wants to move in a "different direction.""The progress that we have made has only been up, so I don't know what other direction they would want to go," Fleming said. "The only thing that I think is disappointing is that we were doing a pretty good job, we were doing a very good job." Interim Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. hired Barren to head the department in the nation's 11th-largest city in September. But Bing went on the record right before he was elected as saying he was happy with the Detroit Police Department and intended on keeping Barren on as chief.Cockrel, the City Council president, said he wants an explanation from Bing about the decision."I look forward to having Mayor Bing address the council as to why this decision was made and made so abruptly," Cockrel said in statement.
Previous Stories:
- July 4, 2009: Cockrel Asking Bing For Explanation
- July 4, 2009: Detroit Police Chief Relieved Of Duty
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