Detroit_Police_Department

Detroit Police Department

Detroit Police Department

Law enforcement agency in Detroit, Michigan


The Detroit Police Department (DPD) is a municipal police force based in and responsible for the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1865, it has nearly 2,500 officers, making it the largest law enforcement organization in Michigan.

Quick Facts Abbreviation, Agency overview ...

History

A patrolling Detroit police cruiser in 1955
The historic former Detroit Police Headquarters at 1300 Beaubien

Establishment

Town constables were appointed for Detroit starting in 1801. A formal Police Commission was established in 1861 but the first forty policemen did not begin working in Detroit until 1865.[2][3]

1890s

Role of women and ethnic minorities

In 1893, the department hired its first policewoman (Marie Owen) and its first black policeman (L. T. Toliver).[2] The Detroit Police Department established a Women's Division in 1921 that was tasked with cases of "child abuse, sexual assaults, juvenile delinquency, and checking establishments for illegal minors."[4] Female officers were not allowed to work on criminal cases unless accompanied by male officers until 1973, after a series of discrimination lawsuits prompted changes in department policy.[5]

1920s

Technological innovations

In 1921, the Detroit Police Department became the first police department in the country to utilize radio dispatch in their patrol cars.[6] A historical marker at Belle Isle Park describes the new advancement in technology.[6]

1940s

Corruption charges

In February 1940, Mayor Richard Reading, the Superintendent of Police, the county sheriff and over a hundred more were indicted on corruption charges. The Mayor was accused of selling promotions in the department. Eighty officers were accused of protecting illegal gambling operations in the city. In the end, the Mayor served three years in jail, ending in 1947.[7]

1950s

In 1957, the Detroit Police Department employed 5,000 policemen and operated a fleet of ambulances to respond to medical emergencies.[8]

2000s

Federal oversight

In 2000, the Detroit Free Press published a series of articles after a four-month investigation into fatal shootings by Detroit police officers.[9] At the time, Detroit had the highest rate of police-involved shootings of any large city in the United States, surpassing New York, Los Angeles, and Houston.[9] The city requested an investigation by the United States Department of Justice into the department's handling of deadly force incidents.[9] By 2001, the Justice Department's investigation had uncovered issues with the department's arrest and detention practices as well.[9] Between 2003 and 2014, the Detroit Police Department was placed under federal court oversight by the Justice Department as the result of allegations about excessive force, illegal arrests and improper detention.[10] This process cost the city of Detroit more than $50 million.[10] By 2014, the department's use of force had been "seriously reduced" and the U.S. District Judge overseeing the case stated that the Detroit Police Department had "met its obligations" for reforms.[11]

Patrol geography changes

In 2005, the department's thirteen precincts were consolidated into six larger districts as a cost-cutting measure.[12] The department restored a number of precincts in 2009 after citizens complained about the change.[12] In 2011, it was announced that the Detroit Police Department would be reverting to the original precinct structure, with officials citing "gap[s] in services" and concerns over the new command structure.[12]

2010s

On January 23, 2011, 38-year-old Lamar Moore walked into the 6th precinct with a pistol shotgun and shot and wounded 4 officers before being killed.[13]

On November 9, 2017, undercover police posing as drug dealers tried to arrest a group of undercover police posing as drug buyers, which led to a multi-person fight and several injuries. Police Chief James Craig told the Detroit Free Press that the brawl was "probably one of the most embarrassing things I've seen in this department."[14]

Headquarters relocation

On June 11, 2010 it was reported that the City of Detroit would acquire the former MGM Grand Detroit temporary casino building (originally the IRS Data Center) on John C. Lodge Freeway for $6.23 million[15] and convert it into a new police headquarters complex which would also house a crime lab operated by the Michigan State Police.[16] The renovated building also houses the Detroit Fire Department headquarters.[citation needed] The former casino building has 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of space.[citation needed] The historic Detroit Police headquarters is in Greektown.[citation needed] On June 28, 2013, the new public safety headquarters opened for business.[citation needed]

2020s

The 2022 budget for the department was $341 million, constituting 28.7% of the city's general fund.[17]

2020 coronavirus pandemic

As the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to spread around the United States, several Detroit Police officers tested positive for being infected with the COVID-19 virus, and over 200 more were quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus in the Detroit metro area. Several infected people in the Detroit metro area had already succumbed to the virus and died after it was first discovered in the counties Detroit and its suburbs were located in. The Detroit Police suffered its first casualty to the virus with the death of a 38-year-old civilian dispatcher.

Fallen officers

Since 1878, the Detroit Police Department has lost 228 officers in the line of duty.[18]

Rank structure and insignia

More information Rank, Insignia ...

Demographics

2013 breakdown of gender and ethnic minorities employed by the DPD:[19][lower-alpha 1]

  • Male: 75%
  • Female: 25%
  • African-American or black: 63%
  • White: 33%
  • Hispanic, any race: 4%
  • Asian: 0.4%

The Detroit Police Department has one of the largest percentages of Black officers of any major city police department, reflecting current overall city demographics. Lawsuits alleging discrimination stemming from the influence of affirmative action and allegations of race-based promotional bias for executive positions have surfaced repeatedly.[20][21][22] As of 2008, the majority of upper command members in the Detroit PD were Black.[23]

Controversies

The table below lists people killed by and controversies involved with the Detroit Police Department.

More information Date, Name of deceased (age) ...

List of chiefs

More information Order, Name ...

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. Does not equal 100 percent due to rounding.

References

  1. "Police Stations". Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  2. "Detroit Police Department". Encyclopedia of Detroit. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  3. Hunter, George (February 26, 2015). "Detroit Police Department marks its 150th anniversary". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  4. Police Dispatch Radio Archived December 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Mich Markers
  5. Austin, Dan (August 29, 2014). "Meet the 5 worst mayors in Detroit history". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  6. "Court oversight of Detroit Police Department cost city $50 million, chief says". Crain's Detroit Business. April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  7. "Detroit police finally rid of federal oversight". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  8. Anderson, Elisha. "Detroit police chief embarrassed after cops from neighboring precincts trade punches". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  9. Michigan State Police to run Crime Lab in new DPD HQ Associated Press via MLive July 6, 2010
  10. Dwyer, Dustin; Khan, Nisa (June 22, 2021). "A year after "defund" protests, most large Michigan cities spending more on police, not less". Michigan Radio. NPR. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  11. "The Officer Down Memorial Page". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  12. "Police Department Race and Ethnicity Demographic Data". www.governing.com. August 27, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  13. "989 F.2d 225". Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  14. 2008 Detroit Police Department Organizational Chart Archived May 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  15. "Ex-cop 'has no idea' why he beat motorist". Detroit News. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016.
  16. "MURDER TANGLE UNRESOLVED AFTER WIFE'S KILLING, COP'S SUICIDE" (PDF). Detroit Free Press. crimeindetroit.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  17. "Charged". Metro Times.
  18. "1 killed, 2 injured in Detroit police chase". San Diego Tribune. August 13, 2009.
  19. Bukowski, Diane. "Ian May Death: Vigilante "Justice" at work?". Voice of Detroit.
  20. "Detroit Police Commissioners". Detroit Public Library, Detroit, MI. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  21. McFadden, Robert D. (September 14, 1970). "Ex-Detroit Police Aide to Teach Here". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  22. Neumann, Ladd (October 16, 1970). "Supt. Nichols Police Boss". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  23. "Tannian One of Band of Police-Politicians". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. September 26, 1973. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  24. "A History of Reform, Civil Rights, Community Partnership, and Public Safety" (PDF). City of Detroit Board of Police Commissioners. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  25. "Detroit Police Department {". detroithistorical.org. Detroit Historical Society. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  26. "Ex-Detroit police chief regrets he set bad example". mlive. The Associated Press. October 16, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  27. "NEW POLICE CHIEF NAMED IN DETROIT". The New York Times. February 14, 1991. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  28. "February 14, 1991 (vol. 101, iss. 96) - Image 1". Michigan Daily Digital Archives. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  29. "Ike McKinnon's promise - 10 years before the riots". FOX 2 Detroit. July 21, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  30. "Chief Isaiah McKinnon "Policing from the Inside"". Gerald R. Ford Foundation. January 21, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  31. Siegel, Susan (July 17, 1998). "17 Jul 1998, Page 16 - Detroit Free Press at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  32. Potts, Laura (July 13, 2001). "Detroit mayor names new police chief". Newspapers.com. The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan). The Associated Press. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  33. "Detroit police chief resigns". Crain's Detroit Business. November 3, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  34. "Detroit appoints first female to top police post". The Michigan Daily. The Associated Press. November 4, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  35. Hackney, Suzette and Schmitt, Ben (with Audi, Tamara). "New chief lays down the law: Preferring progress over praise, she has changes planned" Detroit Free Press, November 8, 2003, 1A.
  36. Hackney, Suzette and Schaefer, Jim. "Native Detroiter worked her way up" Detroit Free Press, November 4, 2003, 1A.
  37. "Lawsuits of '70s shape current police leadership". USA Today. April 25, 2004. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  38. "Person of the Week: Ella Bully-Cummings". ABC News. November 14, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  39. "Detroit police chief announces her retirement". mlive. The Associated Press. September 4, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  40. "Incoming Detroit mayor appoints police chief". The Oakland Press. September 18, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  41. "Report: Detroit Police Chief James Barren being fired". MLive.com. Associated Press. July 4, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  42. Jonathan Oosting (July 6, 2009). "Updated: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing names Warren Evans new chief of police". MLive.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  43. "Detroit police chief resigns - CNN.com". CNN. June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  44. "Ralph Godbee named permanent Detroit Police Chief". mlive. The Associated Press. September 21, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  45. "Detroit Police Chief Godbee Retires Amid Sex Scandal". detroit.cbslocal.com. WWJ-TV. Associated Press. October 8, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  46. Cournoyer, Caroline (October 9, 2012). "Detroit Police Chief Resigns Amid Scandal". Governing. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  47. Ng, Christina (October 3, 2012). "Detroit Police Chief Suspended Amid Sex Scandal Allegations". ABC News. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  48. "Chester Logan To Retire After Detroit Hires New Police Chief". detroit.cbslocal.com. WWJ-TV. Associated Press. May 4, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  49. Herrera, Halston (July 12, 2013). "Detroit police chief: 'Tremendous' change is coming". www.clickondetroit.com. ClickOn Detroit (WDIV). Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  50. Williams, Corey (May 10, 2021). "Detroit police chief announces retirement effective June 1". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  51. "James White Named Detroit Police Chief After National Search". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. August 23, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  52. "Police Chief". City of Detroit. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022.

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