Detroit’s newly sworn-in Police Commissioner, Darious Morris, has decided to remain in office despite initially indicating he would step down just weeks into his tenure.
The 38-year-old, elected in November as a write-in candidate to represent District 3 on the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC), faced public attention over his criminal record and contentious interactions with law enforcement.
Since taking office on Dec. 17, Morris—who calls himself “the People’s Commissioner”—has faced criticism from police for his assertive and confrontational style, according to WXYZ-TV.
In late December, he reportedly intervened while officers were assisting a drug-overdose victim, prompting one officer to tell him, “We’re trying to help someone here,” after which Morris filed a formal complaint.
He also sparked controversy at a precinct when he refused to pass through a metal detector, instructing an officer, “Put your information on a piece of paper so I can get you wrote up.”
In addition, Morris publicly called for the removal of a white commander, citing claims of racial bias in the 9th Precinct.
A now-deleted social media post read, “A lot of black citizens have reported being mistreated by officers out of that precinct. I even experienced disrespect by one of their officers. Get rid of Commander Svec immediately!”
National police groups have criticized Morris’ actions.
William Johnson, head of the National Association of Police Organizations, described his public complaints and social media posts targeting officers as “alarming” and urged the BOPC to demand his resignation, according to The Midwesterner.
Johnson noted that Morris’ statements undermined the very relationship he vowed to improve between Detroit youth and the police department.
Morris’ criminal history has also drawn renewed attention.
Court records and reports indicate convictions for felony fraud and impersonating a public officer dating back to 2009, with a two-year prison sentence in 2010 for a separate fraud case.
In 2023, he intervened in a traffic stop in Warren involving a mini-bike, falsely claiming to be a Detroit Police Department chaplain and showing a badge he purchased online.
Bodycam footage captured him telling an officer, “If you’d have put your hands on him, I would have shot you!”
He later pled guilty to assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer and received probation, according to The Blaze.
After these reports surfaced, Morris initially suggested he would resign to prevent negative perceptions of the BOPC. His attorneys later clarified that he would remain in his position.
No matter what was said previously, right now, he’s not resigning,” said attorney Mohammad Azeem.
Legal matters remain pending. In 2021, Morris faced weapons charges that were dropped after an officer failed to appear, though Wayne County prosecutors have indicated these charges could be refiled.
“We have asked that the case be re-issued. When we receive the warrant request, it will be reviewed,” Wayne County spokeswoman Maria Miller told the Detroit Free Press in a statement.
Morris defended his conduct as an attempt to exercise oversight and improve police-community relations.
“If resigning is what’s best for the people, I’m with it,” he said.
Morris insists that his actions are meant to strengthen oversight and improve police-community relations, stressing that he wants to demonstrate growth from his past mistakes.
Yet his decision to remain on the Board continues to draw criticism from law enforcement and community leaders alike, leaving uncertainty over how his tenure will affect the department’s relationship with the public.
The coming weeks will likely determine whether his approach fosters trust or fuels further controversy.
