Statement by UAW President Rory Gamble on the Death of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon

“Detroit lost a friend and protector this evening who loved his town, his family and his community and the UAW. Benny Napoleon dedicated his life to making the lives of the people of Wayne County safer and better for his service. For Benny public service was about duty and justice and policing that both was protective and fair in its administration. He rose from the police beat, to Police Chief, to Assistant County Administrator and County Sheriff, breaking barriers and creating goodwill.

Benny was a friend of the UAW who did not shy away from the divisions we still battle today. It is the irony of ironies that this protector could not be saved from this tragic pandemic. Whether you knew him or not, and I knew him well, we will all miss Benny Napoleon because he made us all a little safer – and left us all better as people in a safer, friendlier and most of all a better community.”