By Allan Lengel and Violet Ikonomova
Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who was battling Covid-19 and on a ventilator for nearly three weeks, died Thursday night at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, according to sources. He was 65.
Napoleon had just won another a four-year term in November, when he was unopposed. Less than three weeks later, he was hospitalized Nov. 22.
A Detroit native, Napoleon graduated from Cass Technical High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from University of Detroit Mercy and juris doctor from the Detroit College of Law.
Napoleon joined the Detroit Police Department in 1975, rising to chief under Mayor Dennis Archer from 1998 to 2001. In 2004, he was named assistant Wayne County Executive and in 2009, he became sheriff.
In 2013, he ran unsuccessfully against Mike Duggan for mayor, who got 55 percent of the vote.
"It's a big loss," said Adolph Mongo, a poltical commentator and former aide to the late Mayor Coleman A. Young. "He was a good guy. I've known him since he was ahead of the gang squad in the Detroit Police Department. He got the job done."
Corporal Reginald Crawford, President of the Wane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, who's known Napoleon for almost 40 years and worked alongside him at the Detroit Police Department, said he "always stood up for the community and for what was balanced, equal and right."
As police chief, Crawford said Napoleon integrated elite units that were staffed almost exclusively by white officers and supported the fight against the abolition of a requirement that officers live within the city.
The two had their occasional difference on opposite sides of the bargaining table at the sheriff's office, but Crawford said Napoleon ultimately had his deputies' best interest in mind. "He was pro-union," said Crawford. "We always found some common ground and he always listened and he always responded."
Duggan said he's shocked and saddened.
"I cannot think of a leader in this town who has been more loved and admired than Benny," said the mayor. "He was born in the city, served our community courageously his entire adult life, and loved Detroit as much as anyone I’ve ever known."
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib said she was praying for Napoleon's family. "This is a hard one for our Wayne County community," she said. "He had a big heart just like his smile."
U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said: “I always enjoyed spending time with Benny. We worked together closely on law enforcement matters to protect the families and neighborhoods of Wayne County. Through those challenging times, Benny’s smile always brightened our days.”
Napoleon's brother Hilton spent 71 days in the hospital with Covid and is now dealing with virus-related issues.
