Detroit (WWJ) -- There's a new top cop in Detroit. Confirming what reports have indicated, Mayor Dave Bing announced the appointment of former Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans as Detroit's third police chief in less than a year.
Evans turned in his resignation as Sheriff to the Wayne County Executive's office Monday, shortly before he stood with Bing to talk about running the state's largest police department.
At a news conference Monday morning, Bing says the 60-year-old Evans will replace James Barren, who was fired Friday.
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Bing said replacing Barren had nothing to do with the shooting of 7 teens at a westside bus stop last week.
Bing said he felt the police department needed a leadership change and that Evans would bring a more proactive approach to fighting crime.
"I thought we had to make a change, quite frankly, because I don't believe that we can continue to do what we've been doing and think that we're going to get some different results,'' Bing said at a news conference.
"I'm not changing for the sake of change. I'm making this change because it's the right thing to do,'' the mayor said.
The police department is under consent decrees with the federal government to change how it uses force, detains prisoners and questions witnesses.
Bing said the U.S. attorney in Detroit told him the department wasn't doing a good enough job meeting its federal obligations.
Barren was brought out of retirement and appointed chief in September by then-Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. after Ella Bully-Cummings retired.
Evans, 60, praised Barren and said he hadn't gone looking for the post as head of Detroit's police force, but said he thought he could make a positive difference.
"There's really no greater honor than to be a part of a city that's moving forward and to be the head of the largest police department in the state of Michigan,'' Evans said.
Bing, Cockrel and Evans were among the field of mayoral candidates in a February primary to complete the term of Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned in September as part of a plea to two criminal cases.
Evans had been sheriff since 2003. He was re-elected to a four year term last November.
One assistant chief who will work with Evans is Ralph Godbee.
A new Sheriff will be selected by a committee made up of Wayne County Probate Court Chief Judge Milton Mack, Clerk Cathy Garrett and Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Mack said the group will have to schedule a meeting and determine what the process will be. Mack said those interested in becoming Sheriff should contact the group or send a resume.
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said he respects Mayor Bing's decision to appoint Evans the Detroit Police Chief.
"We are confident that the two will be able to move the city forward," Ficano said in a statement. "As Wayne County Executive, I pledge the County's cooperation and will support their efforts to reduce crime in the City of Detroit and protect our citizens."
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