The Metro: A lot of claims about Detroit’s mayor and police chief. What do we actually know?

For about a year, Mayor Mary Sheffield has seemed to be riding high. To get elected, she mounted an impressive campaign, taking 77 % of the vote. Once in office, she hit the ground running. 

The mayor has created new anti-poverty and community safety departments. Many have commented on her leadership skills, balancing confidence and intellect with openness, and a willingness to listen. 

That was true during the summer, when a number of kids were participating in “teen takeovers.” The police department imposed a curfew, but Sheffield also took the time to listen to teens, to ask them what it was that they needed and wanted from their city. 

Now, the mayor’s office is under scrutiny.

Sheffield’s ex-boyfriend, Marvin Walker, says when she was council president, she took $200,000 in kickbacks from city real estate deals. She denies that.

Walker also had private photographs of the two of them. A Detroit activist posted them on Facebook. Sheffield calls it harassment.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison called the two men and asked them to take the photos down. Weeks later, police seized one man’s phone. The city’s Inspector General is now investigating the chief of police.

Those are a lot of details. So what do we actually know?

Detroit Free Press investigative reporter Violet Ikonomova has been looking into this. She spoke with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent.

The Metro invited Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield onto the show. Her office has not responded.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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