Detroit Police

Don't know much about Detroit's new Chief of Police? Read this.

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:10:29 +0000

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr named former Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig as Detroit's new Chief of Police.

Michigan Radio's Sarah Hulett attended the press conference, where Orr announced that Craig will begin July 1, 2013:

The new police chief of Michigan's largest city says he's committed to reducing violence and making the Detroit Police Department a premier police agency.

This announcement followed the plan that Orr outlined in his 45-day report on Detroit's economic status.

Closed state prison to reopen in Detroit

The Associated Press — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:55:27 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - A state prison on Detroit's east side will be reopened as a temporary detention center for anyone arrested in the city.

Mayor Dave Bing's office says the summer opening of the Mound Correctional Facility will free up about 40 police officers for street patrols. It was closed by the state in January 2012.

Officers currently are assigned to five police lockup facilities and a holding unit at Detroit Receiving Hospital where people who are arrested are held until their arraignments. Prisoners then are released to the Wayne County sheriff's office.

Bing's office says the five police lockups will be closed and that the Mound facility will hold up to 200 people.

The city launched an initiative last month that focuses on crime hot spots, drug arrests and enforcing traffic laws.

Businesses plan to donate $8 million for Detroit EMS and police units

The Associated Press and Sarah Cwiek and Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:25:42 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - A number businesses plan to donate $8 million to help Detroit get 23 EMS units and 100 police cars to boost public safety and reduce response times.

Mayor Dave Bing announced the effort Monday along with racing team owner Roger Penske, who leads Penske Automotive Group.

“As local business leaders, we appreciate this opportunity to work with the mayor, and police and fire departments, to help improve safety in the neighborhoods, and our downtown," said Penske.

“We can work together to provide and drive positive momentum in our city.”

Other donors involved include Quicken Loans Inc., General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Mayor Bing calls this an “unprecedented collaboration” with the city’s business community.

The money will actually go Detroit’s Downtown Development Partnership, which will lease the vehicles for the city and pay for maintenance.

But mayor Dave Bing says this isn’t about downtown.

“This is about the neighborhoods," Bing said. "So we can go out into our neighborhoods to let people know that we support them, and we have not forgotten about them.”

Violent crime in Detroit spiked last year. The city recorded 387 criminal homicides. And department cutbacks have slowed response times.

Detroiters should see the new police cars on patrol by early summer, but the EMS vehicles will take a little bit longer to arrive.

The announcement came on the same day bankruptcy attorney and turnaround specialist Kevyn Orr arrived at Detroit City Hall for his first day on the job as emergency manager. Orr takes over the finances of the largest city in the country to come under state oversight.

Bing said the timing of the announcement was a coincidence.

Bing, Detroit law enforcement launch collaborative crime-fighting effort

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:05:01 +0000

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing joined federal, state and local law enforcement to unveil the “Detroit One” crime-fighting initiative Thursday.

The idea underpinning the effort is that a large portion of Detroit’s violent crime is committed by a relatively small number of people.

Why Detroit is breaking up its Gang Squad

Kate Wells — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:12:38 +0000

When gang violence breaks out in the roughest parts of Detroit, even the police call for help.

The gang squad is a special, paramilitary unit of the Detroit Police Department.

They're either necessarily tough, or notoriously brutal, depending on who you ask.

But if the city’s Mayor and the Police Chief have their way, the squad's days are numbered.

Big guys with big guns

Think about it: big guys, with big guns, cruising the city’s toughest streets in the name of law and order. You know what we have here? A reality TV hit.

But dang it, a quick Google search shows the National Geographic Channel beat us to the punch.

Their “Inside Detroit Gang Squad” aired a few years ago, with all the dramatic music and drug raids you’d expect.

Former Detroit police officer, convicted in fatal beating, dies

The Associated Press — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:57:34 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - A former Detroit police officer convicted in the 1992 fatal beating of a man near a drug house has died. Larry Nevers was 72.

The Macomb County medical examiner's office says Nevers died Sunday at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. No details about the cause were immediately available, although Nevers had emphysema.

The search for a new police chief in Detroit, council wants an update

The Associated Press — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:20:27 +0000

A Detroit City Council committee is expected to discuss where Mayor Dave Bing stands in appointing a new police chief.

The status of the search to replace ex-chief Ralph Godbee is scheduled to come up Monday morning before the council's Public Health and Safety Standing Committee.

The council was awaiting a report from Bing's office.

Godbee was promoted to chief in 2010, but stepped down in October after details surfaced of a sexual relationship with a subordinate. Bing promoted Chester Logan to chief on an interim basis.

The Board of Police Commissioners selected firms to conduct a search for a new chief, but no money was immediately available in November from the city to move forward.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines. . .

Emily Fox — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:23:23 +0000

Three Michigan gun bills move forward

"A state Senate panel has sent three gun-related bills to the Senate floor. One bill would exempt guns made, sold, and kept in Michigan from federal regulations. Another would remove some information about guns and their owners from public information requests. And a third one makes state laws regarding gun dealers consistent with federal regulations," Jake Neher reports.

Snyder announces Michigan business grant incentives

"State officials say they have approved incentives for 14 business expansions that could generate more than $1 billion in investments and about 4,600 jobs in Michigan. Governor Rick Snyder announced Wednesday the Michigan Strategic Fund approved the performance-based grants for projects across the Lower Peninsula," the Associated Press reports.

Detroit puts more police on the streets

"The Detroit Police Department is launching a major re-organization. Detroit mayor Dave Bing and police officials say the goal is to have 95% of the department staff involved in active policing, rather than administrative work," Sarah Cwiek reports.

Bing seeks Detroit police reorganization

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:28:05 +0000

The Detroit Police Department is launching a major re-organization to put more officers on the street.

On Wednesday, Detroit mayor Dave Bing and police officials finally unveiled the plan that’s been in the works for awhile.

Major overhaul, stalled chief search loom over Detroit Police

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:31:19 +0000

Multiple reports indicate a major shake-up is in the works for the Detroit Police Department.

The move would reportedly disband several units within the department, in order to redeploy more officers to street patrol.

That’s the type of plan some in law enforcement circles have advocated for some time.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines. . .

Emily Fox — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:48:02 +0000

Blue Cross Blue Shield encourages legislation in new session

"The state's largest health insurer is back encouraging action on legislation enabling its restructuring after Governor Rick Snyder vetoed it. Snyder balked last month at the bill he proposed because of language added by lawmakers preventing insurers and businesses from providing elective abortion coverage in employee health plans. Both hope the legislation without the abortion provisions will be passed and signed into law early in the legislative session that begins Wednesday," The Associated Press reports.

Detroit search for police chief stalled

"The search for a new Detroit police chief appears to have stalled. Former Detroit police chief Ralph Godbee hastily retired amidst a sex scandal in October. Under the new city charter, the Board of Police Commissioners must first select search firms to vet potential candidates for chief. Police Commissioner Jerome Warfield says they’ve done that, and sent them to the mayor's office. But they’ve gotten conflicting signals from the administration about whether there’s money to go forward. A Bing spokesman declined comment on the matter for now," Sarah Cwiek reports.

Red Wings back on ice after lockout

"Peace came to the NHL over the weekend, and now pieces need to fall in place for the Red Wings. They will start a lockout-shortened, likely 50-game season within two weeks and training camp within a week after the league and the NHL Players' Association agreed in principle early Sunday morning to a 10-year deal after a 16-hour negotiation session that ended a 113-day lockout. The new collective bargaining agreement still has to be ratified, but from management on down, the overwhelming response was one of relief," The Detroit Free Press reports.

Detroit to open 13 police 'mini-stations'

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:13:09 +0000

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says 13 police mini-stations will open throughout the city.

Six of them have opened today, and the rest will be in place by March.

The announcement comes on the day police confirmed the shooting deaths of four people in a home on the east side of Detroit, and a week after the city acknowledged that the number of homicides this year has already has eclipsed the total for 2011.

Each of the mini-stations will be staffed with a permanent officer, a police reservist and a community volunteer.

Retaining safety in Detroit with neighborhood patrols

Christina Shockley and Emily Fox — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:58:24 +0000

Many cities across the state are cutting back, and police and fire department budgets are often on the chopping block. In some cases, citizens have taken safety matters into their own hands, through neighborhood patrols. The aim is to observe what's going on in the community, and call the police if anything usual is noted.

Coach Muhammad is president of the community patrol of the Grandmont neighborhood, in northwest Detroit. He volunteers 40 hours a week to keep his neighborhood safe.

As part of Michigan Radio's Seeking Change series. Muhammad talks with Morning Edition host Christina Shockley about what his patrol has been able to do for his neighborhood.

Detroit Police Department reshuffles top brass

Sarah Hulett — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:03:26 +0000

The top ranks of Detroit's police department are getting reshuffled.

Mayor Dave Bing announced the plan today. He says the appointment of two new assistant chiefs, along with some high-level reassignments and promotions, will make the department more efficient and responsive.

"We're all concerned about the safety of the people here in this city and we've made these recommendation new leadership, and we think we're going to see results immediately," Bing said.

The department is struggling to keep a lid on crime as it deals with a string of internal sex scandals.

Commentary: Detroit's police force

Jack Lessenberry — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:56:36 +0000

If I began exhibiting clear signs that I could no longer take care of myself, eventually something would happen.

I might get myself killed or locked up. Thousands of people suffer such fates every year. But in more fortunate cases, incompetent people have legal guardians appointed for them.

Sometimes, they are declared wards of the state. The idea is to prevent them from doing themselves, or anyone else, any harm.