Reflections Magazine Issue #74 - Spring 2011 | Page 16

Feature Article
continued from page 14 . . .

The woman trying to get Detroit Police Chief
Ralph Godbee Jr.’s attention was the daughter of
the shooting victim, according to media reports.
Waiting behind the police barricade at the end
of the block, separating her, a few other citizens
and a couple of television news crews from the
crime scene, she wanted answers.
A few minutes later, the chief arrived and then
met with the woman (photo left) and a couple
of others to explain what happened out of earshot of reporters. After several minutes of what
appeared to be a very subdued Godbee-led conversation, all parties calmly walked away. In a
similar fashion, he then stepped in front of cameras and microphones to clarify the situation to
the media (photo left) before getting back into
his unmarked navy blue Chevy Impala to head
to his next appointment.
The shooting investigation and impromptu press
conference wasn’t a part of Godbee’s original
daily schedule, but as chief, the Siena Heights
University graduate realizes he is now the face
of a major city police department.

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Reflections Spring ’11

“It’s a lot different than I thought,” said Godbee,
who was named permanent chief by City of
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing in September 2010.
“I’m a fairly simple person. I don’t like a lot of fanfare about myself. I just really appreciate coming
to work and doing my job. But what I