Isaiah “Ike” McKinnon began his service to the nation in the United States Air Force (1961–1965), where he trained in Texas, was stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and later served overseas in the Philippines and Vietnam. Shortly after his military service, he joined the Detroit Police Department in 1965, becoming one of the first African American officers in a department then shaped by systemic racism and segregation.

 

In 1967, during a time of civil unrest in Detroit, he survived an assassination attempt — by fellow officers who were white. This harrowing event drew international attention and galvanized his lifelong mission to reform policing from within. Over the next two decades, he advanced through the ranks before leaving the department in 1984. He returned in 1993 to serve as Chief of Police, leading until 1998. During his tenure, Ike became nationally known for his progressive leadership and oversaw high-profile cases, including the investigation into the 1994 attack on Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan at Cobo Arena.

 

In 2013, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan appointed Ike as Deputy Mayor, where he played a central role in shaping the city's faith-based and community engagement initiatives during a critical time in Detroit’s resurgence.

 

In addition to his public service career, Ike is a respected academic. He served as an associate professor of education at the University of Detroit Mercy, mentoring students and training future leaders in criminal justice, ethics, and leadership. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Michigan State University, a master’s in criminal justice from Mercy College of Detroit, and a bachelor’s in history and law enforcement from the University of Detroit.

 

Isaiah McKinnon retired from public life before 2020, establishing a powerful legacy of service, transformation, and justice-driven leadership, forever shaped by both the violence he endured and the reforms he championed.