Detroit police commander arrested for drunken driving is named Highland Park police chief

A Detroit police commander who retired after crashing a department-issued vehicle while drunk is now the chief of the Highland Park Police Department.

Highland Park on Thursday announced the hiring of Johnny Thomas, a 20-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department, to lead the city’s police department.

Thomas, who once ran internal affairs, had a blood-alcohol content above .17 when he struck a pickup truck that was stopped at a red light in January 2019. The driver of the truck was injured and taken to a hospital.

Thomas, who was arrested by officers from his own precinct, was charged with operating while impaired and sentenced to probation.

At the time, then-Detroit Police Chief James Craig said he was “very disappointed” and placed Thomas on restrictive duty pending an investigation.

Highland Park Mayor Hubert Yopp defended hiring Thomas, saying he was the best candidate.

“I need an administrator. This man is a chief, all kinds of training,” Yopp told WXYZ-TV. "As police officers, there’s certain standards. However, how many of us, including you, have not made a mistake in life?”

Stay connected with Detroit Metro Times. Subscribe to our newsletters, and follow us on Google News, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Reddit.