Isaiah "Ike" McKinnon (born June 21,1943) is an American politician,academic,and law enforcement officer. He was a police officer in the Detroit Police Department from 1965 to 1984 and was the Chief of the Detroit Police Department from 1993 to 1998.[1] He was one of the first African American officers in the Detroit police force.[2] He also held the position of deputy mayor of Detroit from 2013 to 2016 and was a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. In 1967,while serving as an officer in the Detroit police,McKinnon was almost killed by racist fellow police officers in an incident that was later covered internationally.[3][4][5]
In 1957,at the age of 14,Mckinnon was beaten by police officers on his way home from school. According to McKinnon,that incident inspired him to join the police force to help reform the system.[6]
McKinnon joined the Detroit police department in 1965 and worked there until 1984. He later rejoined the force as chief of police from 1993 to 1998.[1]
Throughout his police career,McKinnon frequently faced racism from his fellow white police officers.[6] McKinnon was also the "poster officer" for recruiting more minorities into the police force,with his picture being used on police recruiting posters.[2] McKinnon led initiatives in the police force,such as teaching officers basic Spanish to communicate better with Hispanic Americans,and he also laid the groundwork for a gun buy-back program.[2]
During the 1967 Detroit riot,racial tensions increased in Detroit,and one night,his fellow white police officers tried to kill him. McKinnon was driving home after an 18-hour shift when he was pulled over by fellow police officers. Despite identifying himself as a police officer while in his police uniform.[3] One officer held a gun to him and said "Tonight you’re going to die,nigger."[4] The officer shot at him but missed.[5] McKinnon fled in his car. Though he reported the incident,no action was taken.[6]
McKinnon was an associate professor of Education at the University of Detroit Mercy.[6] He took a leave of absence for two years while serving as deputy mayor of Detroit[7] and retired before September 2020.[9]
Security
McKinnon served as the security detail for Detroit mayor Jerome Cavanagh.[1]
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United States