Dennis Emmi was named Ferndale’s Chief of Police on January 1, 2021, following a two-year tenure as the department's Captain. He is a 27-year veteran, starting his law enforcement career with the department in 1994 as a Police Service Aid. Chief Emmi is a lifelong resident of Ferndale and a Ferndale High School alum. Emmi is a 2009 graduate of the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command and a graduate of the 286th session of the FBI National Academy. He served six years as an Airborne Infantry soldier in the Michigan Army National Guard. Chief Emmi has risen through the ranks of the Ferndale Police Department as a patrol officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Throughout his career, Emmi served as a Detective with the Oakland County Narcotic Enforcement Teams, Deputy Team Commander and Sniper Team Leader of Southeast Oakland SWAT Team, and Team Commander of the Ferndale Police Honor Guard.

He is a member of the Oakland County Association of Chiefs of Police, the Southeastern Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the FBI National Academy Associates. Chief Emmi is currently serving on the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Teams Advisory Board of Directors. Chief Emmi adheres to the six pillars of community policing set forth by the President’s task force on 21st Century Policing. One of the task force recommendations was the creation of a Citizens Police Advisory and Review Board to promote community engagement and to build trust and legitimacy. Over the past two years, he has worked closely with city officials to create the city’s first Citizens Police Advisory and Review Board. This newly created body will review police conduct complaints, conduct policy reviews, and provide recommendations to the City Manager. Chief Emmi is committed to continually improving police community relations while being a benchmark for a modern police department.