DETROIT GETS NEW POLICE CHIEF, JULY 1, 2013

Detroit will get a new Police Chief today, James Craig, formerly PC of Cincinnati. He faces a formidable task.

I have met PC Craig and sent two emails to him, warning him his greatest threat is his executives,
and now - Gray Brown....

The PC can't really do much...but smoke & mirrors...The City has a financial manager, and no money.

There needs to be uniformed officers - in the precinct stations !!!!! to say no is to lie...

Chief Craig needs to open the last remaining precincts 24/7, because they are a necessary element of police-community relations...

He must close the fake mini stations, that takes away officers that need to be in precincts, handling the public reports, and show residents that DPD cares about them and their safety and needs.

The current loss of contract by the LSA will drive more of them to retirement, lessening the supervisory oversight, necessary for DOJ Compliance...

Then the DPD will have to promote more officers to supervisory roles - lessening the street officers staffing, already to low, that they can't properly respond to crimes (meaning that crimes CANNOT be solved because evidence is not being collected and reports (crime stats) aren't being taken...

DPD has had terribly low hiring standards - GED, reduced emphasis on criminal and driving records...this has caused disciplinary problems...DPD must raise hiring standards before they do mass hirings, which is now necessary because of low staffing levels..i don't know the current hiring standards, but they must include a 2 yrs college degree or military experience, plus psych screening.

Chief Craig must stand behind police officers...he must listen to them...he must ride with them....and that means getting a contract for LSA, DPOA, COA...that is fair...

He has said he favors 10 hour shifts...12 hours is unsustainable....

Officer tell me that they are getting some new uniforms, but that money has already run out - and some have two part color uniforms..!!!

DPD (Fire / EMS) officers deserve better than what has happened to them, the City is in a financial crisis and needs state and federal grant money - homeland security grants....this must be a priority...Judge Cook should order federal money to help DPD with compliance.

If you have any questions...contact me...

David L. Malhalab
Sgt DPD Retired

PS... a new Police HQ will not improve morale....officers need new equipment and training, they have greater needs than a shiny PHQ...especially - fire fighters who have crumbling, poorly maintained fire stations, with serious building violations... the words spoken by the Mayor and others that morale will be raised - was wishful thinking.......at the very least...