GoFundMe Launched for Detroit Officers Facing Termination for Working with ICE

LIVONIA, Mich. — A GoFundMe has been launched to support two Detroit police officers who are facing termination after coordinating with federal law enforcement to take dangerous criminals off our streets.

Why it matters

• Public safety depends on coordination across agencies during active investigations.

• Punishing officers for interagency cooperation sends a chilling message to law enforcement and puts politics above public safety.

• Two officers are suspended for 30 days without pay and now face termination for doing their job.

Who it impacts

• Sgt. Denise Wallet, 27-year Detroit Police Department veteran and Officer James Corsi, 11-year Detroit Police Department veteran face losing their jobs. 

• All Michigan citizens are put in danger when policing decisions and public safety come second to politics.

How to help

• A new GoFundMe to support the officers with lost wages and legal expense has been launched by Mike Cox.

• The GoFundMe is available here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-denise-wallet-and-james-corsi

• All funds will go directly to the two officers involved to support with living expenses due to the loss of pay and any expenses to subsequently defend their jobs.

What we’re saying

“This is a political witch hunt against law enforcement. These officers followed common sense and acted in good faith. Now they’re being sacrificed to satisfy activists who would rather handcuff police than handcuff criminals. If cops are punished for cooperating with federal law enforcement today, what will they be punished for tomorrow?” - Mike Cox, former Attorney General and veteran homicide prosecutor. 

What happened

• Dec. 16 traffic stop: Corsi contacted Border Patrol during a stop involving a felony warrant. Federal agents arrived and detained the suspect.

• Feb. 9 traffic stop: Reporting and court filings describe a stop where a motorist presented a fake ID and officers could not confirm identity. Wallet contacted Border Patrol after other identification methods failed, and the individual was taken into custody after agents determined the person was in the U.S. illegally. 

• Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison has said he intends to terminate the two officers after they contacted federal agents during separate stops, calling the actions a violation of department policy.

  https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-denise-wallet-and-james-corsi