WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, FOX2 DETROIT NEWS: 10pm - 11pm / 7am...
I was interviewed by Ron Savage, of Fox2 Detroit, about the new proposed Detroit City Budget, that will be submitted to City Council,on Thursday, which may include police / fire layoffs and privatization of EMS.
If Detroit layoffs DPD officers - then the Mayor and City Council hasn't learned from past history: Mayor Coleman Young laidoff 1,100 officers from 1980 to 1985 - crime skyrocketed and Detroit earned, and recieved the nickname "Murder City - USA" because to the homicide rate.
If police are laidoff - now - in a Department that is rightly acknowledged 'under staffed' it will create several serious problems, including lowering police morale, damaging even more police-community relations, and signaling to criminals that Detroit is even more open to crime.
PC Godbee shoud save money by voiding the contract he has with Havard Professor Kelling, who is giving Godbee bad advice or Godbee is ignoring his advice:
Godbee should reopen the 'virtual precincts' that create a link between police and the community - it has been broken.
Council Gary Brown says repeatedly that he can save the DPD - $8 million dollars 'by walking across the street', but he hasn't made public his plan or suggestions.
DPD is finally attempting to get more jail space - to replace the cells that were lost when former PC Cummings closed seven precints in 2005 - and created a dangerous situation of criminals not able to be jailed - and an explosion in the prisoner medical expenses (that hasn't bee reported on by Detroit media).
Godbee needs to replace Crisnet, the basic crime report system, that formers Chiefs have promised to replace since 2005.
Detroit needs a new nationally known and respected Police Chief. Mayor Bing picked Godbee because for political payback - he is not a police chief that can restore confidence or reform the Department. Detroit residents and police officers deserve better.
The bottom line is the Mayor and City Council have to make - Crime, the #1 concern in Detroit and get federal and state grant money to make Detroit safe ---then other Detroit problems will be easier to deal with.
It appears that Crime and Public Safety is not the #1 issue, maybe tomorrow, we will learn the direction Detroit is headed - and if there is police layoffs, residents will be heading out of town and fleeing the City. Maybe city leaders believe they can recreate the City by protecting the downtown and midtown areas - without real concern for neighborhood residents.
ps: are - Mike Ilitch and Bill Ford paying for the use of Detroit Police officers at Tiger, Red Wing and Lion games - other cities charge their professional sports teams.... Are Detroit billionares exploiting and taking advantage of Detroit residents and tax payers ????
An Opening Day participant commented on the "massive police prescence" - that means that 911 calls went unanswered - in the neighborhoods, that already have a declining rate of service.!!!
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