The last white mayor of Detroit was John Gribbs , who served from 1971 to 1974 . The mayor - elect told a newspaper his first priority will be cutting police response times . FBI says there were 15,011 violent crimes , 386 homicides in Detroit last year . Detroit is run by an emergency manager , whom governor appointed until death .
The last white mayor of Detroit was Roman Gribbs , who served from 1970 to 1974 . The mayor-elect tells a newspaper his first priority will be cutting police response times . FBI says there were 15,011 violent crimes , 386 homicides in Detroit last year . Detroit is run by an emergency manager , whom governor appointed until September .