Former Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee running for open seat in Congress

Former Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr., who left the force after an affair with a female officer a decade ago and has worked in law enforcement, radio and the ministry since, confirmed for the Free Press on Wednesday he is running for a newly drawn congressional seat that includes much of the city.

He immediately becomes one of the best-known candidates to enter a race that has no current member of Congress running in it.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, who lives in what will become the new 13th Congressional District, said she would run in a different, newly drawn 12th Congressional District that includes Detroit's west side, Dearborn, Southfield and much of her current political base in western Wayne County.

Godbee, 54, who spent 25 years on the Detroit police force, said his entry into the 13th District race was motivated in part by a decision by U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, not to run for reelection this year. Lawrence is currently the only Black member of Congress in Michigan's U.S. House delegation.

"I think it's vitally important (that Michigan have a Black member of Congress) because representation matters," said Godbee, who is Black. "We're a people that has been marginalized in this country. ... To have the prospect of Black people not having representation in their state at the federal level, that's appalling to me."

As to his past, Godbee said he is willing to discuss it openly as he has throughout the last decade, describing how he has battled depression and believes some of the pressures on him were the result of him being molested by a high school coach.

"I would hope people would have an appreciation of how hard I've worked to get back to the place where I can exhibit the same talents I had when I became chief at 42 years old," he said. "I know I have much more to give to the community.

"I'm a sinner saved by God's grace," he continued. "I have no trouble articulating to the people I'm trying to support that I've made mistakes. I've made poor choices."

Godbee, who plans to make his formal announcement at New Bethel Baptist Church on Linwood at 3 p.m. Thursday, added that during his time as police chief under then-Mayor Dave Bing, Detroit came near total compliance with a Justice Department decree to reduce excessive force, illegal detentions and other violations. The consent decree against city police was finally lifted in 2016 when James Craig, who is running as a Republican to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was chief.

More: Rep. Rashida Tlaib to run for reelection in new Detroit-Dearborn-Southfield district

More: Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan's only Black member of Congress, not running again

The district Godbee is running in as a Democratic candidate is a predominantly Democratic one comprised of Detroit's downtown, Midtown and east side. To the west it stretches through Springwells and Delray and through some Downriver and western Wayne communities, including Taylor and Romulus. To the east it includes the Grosse Pointes.

Among those also looking to run in the district are state Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, a wealthy businessman who spent millions in an unsuccessful race for governor four years ago, and Michael Griffie, a lawyer and senior director with Teach for America-Detroit. State Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, is also rumored to be looking at entering the race.

Godbee said he has lived in various places outside Detroit since retiring from the police force, most recently in Royal Oak, but is closing on a lease in the new district soon.

"Redistricting created an opportunity because there is not an incumbent running," he said. "My life has revolved around serving the people of Detroit."

Godbee invoked the name of the late U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, as someone he would like to emulate in Congress by fighting for marginalized people of any color, reducing inequality and raising standards of living.

"They are still things we have to fight for today," he said.

Conyers, who died in 2019, served 53 years in Congress, rising to become the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, before resigning in 2017 after claims of sexual harassment and misuse of taxpayer funds were made against him. Still, respect for Conyers remained strong in Detroit, where he was a political force.

Godbee recalled testifying on policing before Conyers' committee and said the congressman was an inspiration. Tlaib was elected to replace Conyers in the first full two-year term after Conyers' resignation.

Godbee grew up near 7 Mile and Ryan, the son of a father who was a brick mason and a mother who worked for Michigan Bell. His grandfather had owned a construction company in Conant Gardens. At 19, Godbee joined the Detroit police.

Rising to chief, he resigned amid the scandal involving the internal affairs officer after she posted a photo of herself on social media with her departmental gun in her mouth. An affair with another employee had come to light earlier as well. After the second incident, Bing suspended Godbee, who then took retirement.

Godbee, who had been in the middle of a divorce when the second incident occurred, noted, as Bing did at the time, that the mayor had not asked him to leave.

"I told him my life is falling apart around me," Godbee said. "I needed to get my life together."

He would later host a morning radio show, serve as chief of police for the Detroit Public Schools Community District and work in the ministry, most recently taking a job as chief of staff for Triumph Church, a Christian church with several locations in metro Detroit.

Contact Todd Spangler at tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee running for Congress