Detroit police chief steps down amid sex probe

• Detroit police Chief Ralph Godbee stepped down Monday
• Godbee was in a sexual relationship with a subordinate
• Assistant Chief Chester Logan will serve as interim chief

DETROIT -- Less than a week after he was suspended for allegedly having an affair with a subordinate, Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. has retired from his position effective immediately, Mayor Dave Bing announced at a news conference Monday.

Bing said he did not force Godbee to resign during a Sunday meeting, but said it had become clear the chief had to step down.

"I think this was the right decision by the chief and therefore I support it," Bing said.

Bing said he had gotten to know Godbee well and respected him as a leader.

"It bothers, hurts me a great deal that it has come to this," Bing said. "I worry about him as a person and hope that he'll be able to get on with his life no longer as part of the Detroit Police Department, but as a citizen of Detroit."

Bing stressed that public safety in the city won't be impacted by the shakeup. Assistant Chief Chester Logan will serve as interim chief.

Bing suspended Godbee for 30 days Oct. 2 after allegations the chief was having an affair with Angelica Robinson, who works for the department in internal affairs. Robinson's gun was taken away after she became distraught and posted a photo of herself with a gun in her mouth on a social networking site. She was evaluated by a doctor and was cleared to return to work with her gun, a department spokeswoman said Friday.

The chief, who is married, filed for divorce in August. He has declined comment.

When asked if Godbee admitted to a relationship with an internal affairs officer, Bing said: "He did tell me that he had a relationship with Ms. Robinson, yes."

Bing said Godbee was embarrassed.

"He felt he had let me down. He felt he had let the department down. He felt he had let the citizens of Detroit down," Bing said.

The chief, who is married, filed for divorce in August. He has declined comment.

His retirement letter, which carries Monday's date, makes no mention of the affair or what led to his stepping down. Instead, it opines about his career in the department, which he began working for in 1987, and his gratitude for being able to serve the city.

"I retire proud of the fact that I was able to assist during a time in which our city has most been in need and I thank Mayor Bing and his administration for allowing me to serve as the chief for the past two years," the letter says.

Godbee began working for the Detroit Police Department in 1987. He briefly retired in 2008, but returned the following year and had been the chief since 2010.

Godbee took over as chief after former Chief Warren Evans was forced to resign after he marketed himself in a teaser for a reality program and also had a relationship with a subordinate, Lt. Monique Patterson.

At the time, Bing said Evans' relationship with Patterson compromised his ability to lead. The mayor named Godbee, a lifelong Detroiter and veteran of the department, interim chief in July 2010. That September, he was given the top job.

But shortly after being named chief, Patterson released text messages showing she also had a romantic relationship with Godbee.

The mayor said he spoke with Godbee during his tenure about his behavior because of the prior indiscretion with the lieutenant.

"We have had that conversation on more than one occasion because I had concerns just based on the histor, and he confided in me that he had changed his ways," Bing said. "And I had no reason not to believe that."

Bing said he told Godbee what his expectations were.

"He didn't live up to those expectations," Bing said, "and that leads us to where we are today."