Thursday, January 3 2013 11:48 AM EST2013-01-03 16:48:09 GMT
He hasn't officially announced a run for Detroit mayor, but Benny Napoleon is already throwing punches. His first jab was aimed right at Mike Duggan and his neighborhood.
He hasn't officially announced a run for Detroit mayor, but Benny Napoleon is already throwing punches. His first jab was aimed right at Mike Duggan and his neighborhood.
By Amy Lange Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- "It was a statement regarding quality of life," Napoleon said.
Thursday, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon clarified what he meant when he said during a recent speaking engagement that Palmer Woods is not Detroit. The upscale neighborhood is now home to former Wayne County Prosecutor and former head of the DMC Mike Duggan.
Both men are exploring a run for mayor of Detroit.
"It was just a comparison between the quality of life that exists in Palmer Woods as opposed to a different quality of life that exists throughout the rest of the city of Detroit," said Napoleon. "My statement was that is the type of quality of life that we should strive to have throughout the city of Detroit."
But he also reportedly said the city was our Detroit and we're going to keep it for Detroiters. Some call the remarks divisive and questioned whether Napoleon was somehow injecting race into the race.
"I don't know how he could make that a statement about race," he said.
Does Napoleon think it's an issue that Mike Duggan is white?
"No," he said. "The fact that someone is black or white is a non-issue. Detroiters have demonstrated over the course of time that they will vote for anybody that they believe has the best interest of Detroit at heart."
Napoleon says he does, looking to his 38 years in law enforcement as a chief, educator and sheriff, ready to focus on narcotics, violence among young people and career criminals.
"You have to focus on those people who are victimizing the community as a matter of course every single day and that will start driving your crime rate down."
With the incredibly high homicide numbers coming out on Thursday, Sheriff Napoleon was adamant that crime and public safety are the number one issues in the next mayoral election, but one thing he said has no place in this election is the issue of race.
"I'm the sheriff of 43 communities in Wayne County. It's a very diverse county and I represent all of the people of Wayne County, and there is no way I would engage in anything as divisive as interjecting race into the mayoral race. There's no place for it and I won't participate in it."
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:20:38 GMT
Neighbors said he threatened them with a shotgun, then opened fire wounding two people. Now one of the victims has said he's angry the man accused of pulling the trigger is already out of jail.
Neighbors said he threatened them with a shotgun, then opened fire wounding two people. Now one of the victims has said he's angry the man accused of pulling the trigger is already out of jail.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:57 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:57:50 GMT
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:17 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:17:22 GMT
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino.
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino. 42-year-old Myron Williams is on probation in Michigan for a drug paraphernalia charge. He also has quite a past in Louisiana.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:30 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:30:05 GMT
There are new developments in the murder of a young woman in Grosse Pointe Park. Police have a person in custody in connection with the death of Sabrina Gianino, who was found strangled last week.
There are new developments in the murder of a young woman in Grosse Pointe Park. Police have a person in custody in connection with the death of Sabrina Gianino, who was found strangled last week.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:43:34 GMT
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:30 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:30:30 GMT
The incident forcing the partial evacuation of Detroit Metropolitan Airport for hours one day last month was triggered by law enforcement officials' belief that they'd found an improvised explosive device in luggage.
The incident forcing the partial evacuation of Detroit Metropolitan Airport for hours one day last month was triggered by law enforcement officials' belief that they'd found an improvised explosive device in luggage.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:28 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:28:22 GMT
One week after appearing via satellite on the American Idol season finale the Queen of Soul has rescheduled next month's planned performance at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
One week after appearing via satellite on the American Idol season finale the Queen of Soul has rescheduled next month's planned performance at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:48 AM EDT2013-05-23 15:48:50 GMT
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is dropping his longtime lawyer. Kilpatrick told a judge Thursday that his relationship with James Thomas deteriorated long before his conviction.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is dropping his longtime lawyer. Kilpatrick told a judge Thursday that his relationship with James Thomas deteriorated long before his conviction two months ago on corruption charges.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:59 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:59:53 GMT
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:58 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:58:41 GMT
New U.S. Census Bureau estimates say Detroit's population remained just above 700,000 last year. The figures show Detroit lost residents between 2011 and 2012, but the decline was at a slower pace than in previous years.
New U.S. Census Bureau estimates say Detroit's population remained just above 700,000 last year. The figures show Detroit lost residents between 2011 and 2012, but the decline was at a slower pace than in previous years.
