 Hill was promoted to the rank of Inspector in charge of the Homicide Division by 1982, and in 1989, retired from the Detroit Police Department at the rank of Commander.Following his retirement from police work he became a councilman for Detroit, becoming its president in 1997, and running unsuccessfully for mayor against Kwame Kilpatrick in 2001.He was initially considered to be the leading candidate, and had support from many people connected with incumbent mayor Dennis Archer..