While the story of Detroit is familiar to many Americans, it is kinda hopeful to see one part of it improving. This article on policemag talks about the new police chief, the 7th in 8 years, with his hopes for improving the department. One of the notable things he's done so far is put 300 eligible desk job holders back on patrol (including one who's sole jobs were to refuel the chief's car and clean the chief's office). It's also interesting to read about the mismanagement in the past, like forgetting to use a grant for a Lenco Bearcat or finding over 50 dodge chargers sitting in a warehouse.

 

http://www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2013/10/the-detroit-blues.aspx

Thanks for linking this c13, nice read! How the fudge does someone "forget" 53 cars? I knew the situation was bad, but this is just... I can't find any good words for it. Hopefully the new chief can turn things around to the way it should be.

In all honesty, the worst part of Detroit and its crime rate isn't the Police Department. It's the elected officials and their failings to manage the city government and curb a massive bubble that most fiscal analysts saw coming decades ago. I give great credit upon those men and women in the Detroit Police Department. As a Police Officer, you're known to deal with a large amount of risk on a daily basis. But, even as a soldier, I would do a double take on Detroit and dealing with it on an everyday basis.

 

These guys should be some of the highest paid officers in the United States, with Hazardous Duty Pay. Also, circulating the idea of a deployment or two of the National Guard to help curb some of the issues, isn't the worst idea possible in this state of circumstances.

Edited October 16, 201312 yr by ArchangelTwo

Seems to me that the U.S forgot Detroit was part of their country...