Muslim Mayor Who Supports Trump Stops Police Department Patch in English and Arabic

Dearborn Heights Police Patch Controversy

The mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, recently addressed a situation involving a police department outside Detroit that created a mock-up of uniform patches displaying “Dearborn Heights” and “Police” in both English and Arabic. This was done without proper authorization, prompting the mayor to clarify that it shouldn’t have been treated as an official proposal.

Earlier this week, a Facebook post by the Dearborn Heights Police Department announced this optional patch. However, the post has since been removed. Mayor Bazzi responded to the actions of the police department, stating, “Not so fast,” in regard to the potential changes to the police uniforms.

According to Detroit’s Fox Affiliate, there was no consensus or further review of the patch design prior to its announcement. Mayor Bazzi emphasized the importance of involving various stakeholders in discussions before implementing any changes to police uniforms. “We are one PD, so each individual uniform represents the entire DHPD, so it deserves all of our reviews and input,” he noted.

The police department initially claimed that the patch was a concept by one of its executives, with the intent of celebrating the diverse culture in the community. However, Mayor Bazzi, who has roots in Lebanon and is the city’s first Muslim mayor, insisted that it shouldn’t have been presented as an official prototype.

The Facebook post sparked a flurry of comments, with some expressing concerns about losing the city’s identity. As of 2023, around 39% of Dearborn Heights’s population identifies as Middle Eastern or North African, while in neighboring Dearborn, that figure rises to approximately 55%.

In recent elections, President Trump won both cities, leading by margins of eight and six points over Vice President Harris, receiving support from Arab and Muslim voters as he campaigned in Michigan.

Mayor Bazzi has publicly supported Trump, and earlier this year, the president nominated him as the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia. Bazzi recently attended a confirmation hearing in Washington.

At 62, Bazzi’s journey is noteworthy. He moved to the United States at age 12 from Lebanon without formal education, served in the Marine Corps for 21 years, and later pursued a degree in aeronautics, eventually working for Boeing and Ford.