Detroit Police Chief James White to Lead Detroit’s Largest Mental Health Organization as CEO of DWIHN

Detroit Police Chief James White is stepping into a pivotal new role, leading the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), Michigan’s largest mental health safety net organization. In a unanimous vote by the DWIHN board of directors, White was chosen over Michael Hunter, president of Team Wellness Center, to become the next CEO. His appointment, however, has sparked a range of reactions, with some expressing excitement about his leadership while others raise concerns over his past as Detroit’s police chief. White, who has served as the city’s top cop since 2021, is no stranger to public service or mental health. With 28 years of law enforcement experience and credentials as a licensed mental health professional, his career has bridged the gap between policing and mental health advocacy. “As a CEO of the Detroit Police Department, I’m not jumping in and out of scout cars, I’m running an organization with 3,000 people,” White said during his final public interview, emphasizing his executive experience. “It’s important to bring what I’ve learned to DWIHN, understanding that the people have an impression or an expectation that ‘here comes this chief with a policing mindset,’ which is not the case.” White’s leadership has often been...