Good Luck - Detroit Police Chief Craig....
You will need it - I hope you recognize you're greatest problem, will be the inbred corruption of the DPD executives, this is what - in part - brought down former PC Jerry Oliver.
You should work... to immediately end the DOJ - Consent Decress - from 2003, that Mayor Bing said he would end, but hasn't, there has been a corruption with the process and Federal Judge Julian Cook's, failure to properly monitor the process.
You should immediately meet with DP Union leaders who want to see you succeed and need help to restore morale and pay. Also, you should upgrade the hiring standards of the DPD, because hiring new officers will be a serious need, with officers retiring, and an already low number of officers.
You should re-open all DPD Precinct - 24/7, Mayor Bing closing them for 16 hours a day, broke faith with Detroit residents and broke an important police-community relations bond. Please close the failed (Coleman Young) era 'mini stations' and put those staffers back into the precincts to better serve residents.
There are more problems that you will face, use me as a resource person. Good Luck and God Bless.
David L. Malhalab
Sgt DPD Retired 77T
Dear Governor,
Kevyn Orr has many people making suggestions as to setting priorities for Detroit.
I am one of them, I am a retired DPD Sergeant and a critic of the DPD, to the extent that former PC EB Cummings gave me a duty disability retirement.
I have advocated for DPD officers and better police service to residents.
I suggest that a priority for DPD is to immediately get an agreement to use Wayne County
jail cells / medical facility. DPD has wasted millions of dollars an unnecessary medical costs for prisoners. Dr. Ross E. Tabbey, MD, FACEP - DRH Emergency Room, told me that he told DPD about wasted millions of dollars for prisoner care, that could be taken care of by a nurse triage. (313 745 3330 / 734 634 0420)...
WCE Ficano told me that he had a hand shake agreement with Kirk Lewis to use WC jail space, but never got a contract. The WC jail space to my understanding would virtually complete the DOJ - Consent Decrees that have lingered on for ten (10) years. The end of the Consent Decrees would be a morale boost for DPD officers.
The jail space and an end to the Consent Decrees would also be good for sending a message that DPD officers again can arrest those people, that need to be arrested and that no one is going to get a break because of lack of jail space.
DPD needs state and federal grant money to add officers, improve training and equipment.
Detroit is a border city and should be getting a bigger share of Homeland Security grants etc etc etc.
DPD needs to improve hiring standards, if you hire better quality applicants, you save money all down the line.
Please contact me - if I can be of help...Detroit residents, visitors and police officer deserve better.
