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Detroit Police Chief Drops Bid to Fire Officers Who Called Border Patrol After 30-Day Suspensions

A unanimous police commission vote enforced department rules that bar officers from involving federal immigration authorities.

Overview

  • Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners voted 10-0 to suspend Sgt. Denise Wallet and Officer James Corsi for 30 days without pay, with medical benefits retained.
  • Chief Todd Bettison said he will no longer seek termination and supports the suspensions as the final discipline in the case.
  • The cases stem from traffic stops on Dec. 16, 2025, and Feb. 9, 2026, where Border Patrol was contacted and the stopped individuals were detained by federal agents.
  • A routine review of body-worn camera footage identified both incidents, which violated DPD policy restricting contact with federal immigration authorities and use of CBP for translation.
  • Wallet has filed a federal lawsuit asserting she acted on a lieutenant’s direction to identify a driver, claiming no policy breach and alleging due-process violations while seeking reinstatement and damages.