Police commissioner running for Farmington Hills City Council

WARREN — Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer is running for a seat on the Farmington Hills City Council.

Dwyer recently discussed his candidacy and what it means for him as police commissioner if elected.

“Most people that are City Council people have another job,” Dwyer said. “It is not a full-time job. I have the drive and the initiative (to do both).

“I’ve been blessed with good health. I get up at 3:30 in the morning. I’m in the office (at) 5:30, 6:00 every morning. I’m on the phone many times at night until two, three, four o’clock in the morning,” said Dwyer. “I obviously have the strength and the will to continue in law enforcement.”

Dwyer addressed the relationship he has built with the residents of Warren.

“Now, I think I have a good reputation with the residents of Warren.  And I would just say, whoever is elected as mayor, I am an at-will employee. So if they say, ‘It’s time for you to leave,’ then obviously, I’m leaving,” Dwyer said.  “If they ask me to stay, then I’ll stay for a period of time and do both jobs. I’m not planning on retiring at this point.”

Dwyer did double duty before as Warren’s police commissioner and a member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and he believes he can take on added responsibilities now. He has served a total of nine years as the Warren police commissioner, including three years from 2008 until the end of 2010.

“Then I left to become a county commissioner because the mayor (James Fouts) didn’t want me to do both jobs,” Dwyer said. “Around 2017, when I came back, the mayor had called me several times and asked me to come back. So I took the position as police commissioner again in 2017 and stayed as county commissioner for a year and a half doing both jobs.”

The Warren police commissioner calls Farmington Hills home.

“Farmington Hills has been my home for 38 years, and I was the police chief there for 23 years, so I care about Farmington Hills. I have lifelong relationships in Farmington Hills, and I am committed to Farmington Hills,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer’s ties to Farmington Hills are complemented by his more than 60-year career in law enforcement and public service.

“I’ve had a great career, I believe,” Dwyer said. “Twenty-three years with the Detroit Police Department, in charge of the narcotics division for seven (years), 23 years as police chief in Farmington Hills, nine years as (Warren) police commissioner, eight years as (Oakland) county commissioner, so I’m driven. I enjoy public service. We’ll just have to see what happens.”