Isaiah McKinnon

Isaiah McKinnon (born June 21, 1943) is an American former police officer who was in the Detroit Police Department from 1965 to 1984, and its chief from 1993 to 1998.[1] He was one of the first African American officers in the Detroit police force.[2] He was the deputy mayor of Detroit from 2013 to 2016. He is also a professor at University of Detroit Mercy. In 1967, while 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]

McKinnon delivering the opening at University of Detroit Mercy Centennial Symposium in 2016

Early life and education

Isaiah McKinnon was born on June 21, 1943, in Montgomery, Alabama. His father, Cota, was a carpenter and a catcher in Negro league baseball. His mother Lula was a housewife.[2]

In 1957, McKinnon, a 14-year old African American, was beaten by police officers while on his way home from school. According to McKinnon, that is when he decided to join the police to reform the system.[6]

McKinnon served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965. He attended basic training in Texas, and was initially assigned to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where he spent three years. He then served overseas in the Philippines and Vietnam for his last year in the military.

McKinnon holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Michigan State University, a master's in criminal justice from Mercy College of Detroit and a bachelor's in history and law enforcement from the University of Detroit.[1]

Career

Police

McKinnon joined the Detroit police in 1965 and worked there till 1984. He rejoined the force as chief of police from 1993 to 1998.[1]

During his time in the police, McKinnon frequently experienced racism from white police officers.[6] McKinnon was also the "poster officer" for recruiting more minorities into the police; his picture was 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 laid the groundwork for a gun buy-back programme.[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. McKinnon identified himself as a police officer and was still wearing 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 then fled in his car. Though he reported the incident, no action was taken.[6]

McKinnon led the investigation into the 1994 Cobo Arena attack on Nancy Kerrigan.[2]

Deputy mayor

Detroit mayor Mike Duggan appointed McKinnon as deputy mayor in 2013. During the time McKinnon helped with the mayor's faith-based initiatives.[7] He supported the installation of the controversial Homeless Jesus statue in front of Detroit's Saints Peter and Paul Church.[8]

Academia

McKinnon is an associate professor of Education at University of Detroit Mercy.[6] He took a leave of absence for two years when he served as deputy mayor of Detroit.[7]

Other

McKinnon served as the security detail for Detroit mayor Jerome Cavanagh.[1]

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References
  1. Charles E. Ramirez. "Detroit street dedicated to ex-top cop Ike McKinnon". The Detroit News.
  2. L. Mpho Mabunda. Contemporary Black Biography. Gale Research International. p. 157-160. Text can be found here
  3. "'You're going to die tonight': Detroiters recall smoke, soldiers and bullets of 1967 riot". CBC News.
  4. Drew Philp. "In 1967, they watched their city erupt. Fifty years on, how has Detroit changed?". The Guardian.
  5. Robyn Meredith (July 23, 1997). "5 Days in 1967 Still Shake Detroit". New York Times.
  6. "This is what it was like to be a young, black police officer in Detroit during the 1967 rebellion". Michigan Radio.
  7. "Detroit Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon to retire July 1". Detroit Free Press.
  8. "'Homeless Jesus' sculpture gets downtown home June 28".
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