Roseville Police Chief Mitchell Berlin will retire Saturday after more than three years in the job and 32 years with the department.
Berlin, 59, announced his intention Monday on the Roseville Police Department’s Facebook page and confirmed it later that day. He will leave on the 32nd anniversary of his starting with the department as a patrol officer.
“It’s time to go,” he said Monday. “I’ve got an opportunity in the private sector that I can’t pass up. This is my anniversary date. The stars align for me perfectly. For the good of the organization and everything, it’s the proper time for me to go.
“The department is running great. We haven’t had issues, any major discipline, scandals, nothing in the PD since I took over. It’s not because of me. It’s because of the great people.”
He would not elaborate on his new job other than to say it has to do with a municipality but not in police work.
Taking over as interim chief will be Scott Burley, who is expected to be named chief, according to Berlin.
Robert Gudenau, the former deputy chief under Berlin, retired early this year and was replaced by Alison Rieser.
Berlin and his sibling, Jim, have the unique distinction of brothers serving as the chief of the same department. Jim was the Roseville chief from 2012 to 2018, when he left amid some criticism.
Mitch Berlin took over in May 2023 from Ryan Monroe, who was promoted to city manager/police commissioner.
Roseville Police Chief Mitchell Berlin, left, and Deputy Chief Robert Gudenau III display the department’s accreditation certificate from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission via the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police during a 2024 City Council meeting. (MACOMB DAILY FILE PHOTO)
Berlin said his departure is unrelated to his rift with Monroe that started last year regarding compensation time that Berlin granted to an officer and Gudenau. Last November, Berlin was denied his Freedom Information Act request for a copy of a report by Monroe on the matter and threatened to sue. City Council met in closed season over the matter.
Berlin said it was determined he was within his authority to allow the comp time.
“It’s been resolved. It’s water under the bridge,” he said. “I have no issues. I got a smile. I’m leaving on my anniversary date.”
City Manager Monroe did not return a call seeking comment.
Berlin said he has made improvements to the department such as upgrading equipment and bringing some functions in-house, including firearms training, emergency-vehicle operation and accident reconstruction. The developments have improved morale, he said.
“There was some stagnation,” he said of the situation when he took over. “Now there is some more forward, proactive thinking. We decentralized a lot of functions. The lieutenants and some sergeants are running their own (units). You allow them the room to grow, and they take it to the next level. You give them the green light to do it and be proud of them.”
Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin joins a fly-over of his city with the Border Patrol Air and Marine Operations Unit last week.
ROSEVILLE POLICE PHOTO
His biggest concern over local crime is the increase in gun violence in the county, particularly with officer-involved shootings, and criticized judges for being lenient on armed criminals.
“My personal opinion is that violence is on the rise because there’s no repercussions for your actions,” Berlin said. “You can carry a gun, get a personal bond. You can beat somebody, you get a personal bond. Some of these judges are just way too liberal. You can do a heinous crime and get probation. That should not be happening.”
Berlin, a Roseville native, was slated to be formally congratulated by the City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Through his hard work and dedication, Mitch has proved time and time again he can get the job done in a professional and courteous manner; these qualities that he possesses are what led him to serve on various task forces and special assignments during his tenure,” the council says in the document designed for framing and display.
Berlin began as a patrol officer for five years. He worked in street narcotics for three years and in the U.S. Drug Enforcement task force – the County of Macomb Enforcement Team – for 15 years. He rose to the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant, during which he ran special investigations.
Prior to serving in Roseville, he spent almost two years in the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, and a shorter amount of time in the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority Police Department.
Berlin is married to Kelly and has three children.
In his Facebook announcement, Berlin said, “From my first day as a police officer to my final day as Chief, I have tried to carry out my responsibilities with honor, courage, fairness, and the utmost integrity. I have always understood that wearing the badge was not simply a job it was a tremendous responsibility and a privilege entrusted to me by the people I served.
“I leave this position with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride not simply for what we accomplished, but for the opportunity to have been part of this community for 32 years. While I may be retiring from the police department, I will never stop caring about the city and the people who have been such an important part of my life.”
Macomb County Commissioner Harold Haugh, a former Roseville mayor and councilman, wrote, “THANK YOU”, in big fuscia letters in reply to Berlin’s post.