Police Chief Suspended in Detroit: Ralph Godbee's Second Sex Scandal in 2 Years (VIDEO)
The police chief was suspended in Detroit after being caught in his second sex scandal in his relatively short tenure— 44-year-old Ralph Godbee Jr. has only been head of the city's police since 2010.
The police chief's suspension was announced by Mayor Dave Bing, who could have to hire Detroit's fifth police chief in four years. Godbee's sex scandal with internal affairs officer Angelica Robinson broke Tuesday, and Mayor Bing took swift action.
"After learning of the allegations regarding Chief Ralph Godbee, I have placed him on a 30-day suspension pending a full and thorough investigation of this matter," Bing said in a statement.
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Godbee had returned from a conference at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, according to the hotel. Some reports indicated that Robinson may have become upset after discovering the police chief was booked in the hotel with another woman. Godbee also filed for divorce from his wife in August, reported WXYZ-TV.
Critics say Mayor Bing could have seen this coming. Shortly after Godbee was appointed as Detroit's newest police chief, text messages were released that showed a relationship with a subordinate, Lt. Monique Patterson. The mayor stood by Godbee, saying he was "the person to lead DPD in our efforts to improve public safety."
"Either … [Bing] chooses the wrong people or doesn't know how to choose the right people," Councilwoman Kwame Kenyatta told the Associated Press Wednesday. "He's had more people resign, fired, quit than any other mayor that I know of."
As for the current sex scandal, Angelica Robinson now claims she attempted to end the relationship, but Godbee refused to let her. Robinson, who is married, then posted a picture on Twitter with a gun in her mouth. Godbee and other officers found her and put her under surveillance.
"She was trying to cut it off, and he didn't like that," David Robinson, her attorney, told the Detroit Free Press. "And apparently she was, she was very depressed apparently, and the concern was whether or not she was going to take her own life, and Godbee got wind of that and, I guess, tried to intervene."
"The pressure got to her," he told WDIV.
As for the female Robinson, who is not related to her attorney, she has had her weapon removed from her and is being evaluated. Godbee has not been able to be reached for comment.
"If he is a man of God, he will tell the truth," she said. "I truly apologize to his wife and my husband."
Assistant Police Chief Chester Logan will assume Godbee's duties during the investigation.
