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The Detroit Police Officers Association is warning citizens and out-of-towners that they enter Detroit at their own risk, saying that the "grossly understaffed" and overworked police force cannot adequately protect the public in the increasingly violent city.
“Detroit is America’s most violent city, its homicide rate is the highest in the country and yet the Detroit Police Department is grossly understaffed,” DPOA Attorney Donato Iorio told WWJ over the weekend. “The DPOA believes that there is a war in Detroit, but there should be a war on crime, not a war on its officers.”
The most dangerous cities in America
An analysis of the FBI's Uniform Crime Report data from 24/7 Wall St. indicates that Detroit actually has the second-highest violent crime rate in the country, behind Flint, Mich. Homicide increased by 11 percent in 2011, while robbery and aggravated assault are fourth- and second-highest in the country, respectively, according to the report.
This summer, city leaders cut the police department's 2012-13 budget by $75 million, to about $340 million, in an attempt to reduce the city's deficits, the Detroit Free Press reported. That forced the department to draw up a budget that will result in the loss of 380 positions through attrition and early retirement.
Iorio told WWJ hundreds of officers have left the department since the start of summer.
"Officers are leaving simply because they can’t afford to stay in Detroit and work 12-hour shifts for what they are getting paid," Iorio told WWJ. "These police officers are beyond demoralized. ... They can no longer afford to stay on the department and protect the public,” he said.
According to the DPOA's manifesto, Detroit police are the lowest paid of any big city and have to work in what Iorio describes as "deplorable, dangerous and war-like conditions." About a month ago, a judge refused to block the pay cuts for the officers.
"The state treasurer has threatened Detroit Police Officers with another 10% wage cut for going to court to protect their rights," the DPOA manifesto reads.
“The explosion in violent crime, the incredible spike in the number of homicides and for officers trying to work 12 hours in such deplorable, dangerous and war like conditions is simple untenable,” Iorio told WWJ.
Renee Monforton of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau told NBC News that it’s unfortunate that the police union is using such tactics to move its agenda forward.
“It’s offering an unfair portrayal of a city that’s made a lot of strides in the past couple of years,” she said, noting that companies such as Quicken Loans have recently moved their headquarters and offices to downtown Detroit.
Getting people to come to Detroit can be a challenge, she said, but once visitors experience the city they are likely to return.
“People who come here are so pleasantly surprised that we see a lot of repeat visitations,” Monforton said.
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Leave a Comment:
I would like to know what the Police Union thinks is the solution. Just give them more money? If the Union were in charge how would they handle the fiscal crisis? BTW, I am pro-union but the answer is just not more money.
This problem is going to spread to other cities so the folks that are a lot smarter than I better stop complaining and figure a way to come up with some answers.
Detroit MI is currently ranked 481 out of 780 places (rank 1 is most expensive:
rank 780 is least expensive). The current cost of living rank for each basket,
together with selected local benchmark prices converted to US Dollars are as
follows:
They are working in a department where they get paid to have sex with each other.. What is their beef?
Here is where to get the scoop..
Salary
Police Officer
$30,137 - $53,237
Plus Shift Differentials clothing allowances, health, dental, tax shielded retirement plan etc.
Detroit MI is currently ranked 481 out of 780 places (rank 1 is most expensive:
rank 780 is least expensive). Housing is really really cheap since there is a massive glut available.
How can anyone be surprised that Detroit has become a hellhole ghetto? When the current group of thugs was growing up in households without strong guidance this scenario was inevitable. Education isn't valued. Students are called Uncle Tom for working toward good grades. Grow up with a crack mom who bangs everybody for her drugs. All your brothers and sisters have different dads, and most times you don't even know the person or he is the local drug dealer or pimp or both. Dehumanize a population and then wring your hands when it blows up in your face. Please. How stupid to worry now. The time to get this under control was 1967. Instead the loudest and most influencial voices were people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They weren't working to bring the values of their people in line with success. They were crying victim at the hands of white people. The current condition in Detroit is no surprise. Raising taxes to buy more cops is like putting more bandaids on an amputation spurting blood. It isn't the long term solution to saving the patient.
AMEN!!!
What? This isn't a race issue you racist turd. So what about the thousands of white people that live there? I'm sure to you they are the only good people left there. In 1967, What was going to get under control? Those darn black trouble makers? Wow, I'm glad your such a much better person because you are white. lol What a POS
Well annonomanus... It's mighty racist of you (pot, kettle, black) to think Paduki is white.
Masterfully put Paduki. annon, yeah, let's blame it on the white people 10% of he population of the city. Statistically, blacks are 15% of the population but outnumber whites in prison 6 to 1, so do the math, oops, let me do it. The odds of a person in Detroit committing a crime being black are about 360 times greater than being white.
Detroit has been this way for decades. I grew up there. If you know how to behave yourself you'll be fine. But you probably won't know how to behave yourself, so stay out of there. Lots of mindless violence can really keep you on your toes.
At the end of the day if you think Cops are working for public safety you are nuts
- they are about getting paid like the rest of us. People have a warped perception
about why cops do what they do, and cops get way to much credit as if they are
donating their time.
They are mercenaries - often ex-military who can't get paid $60-100k at any other
job. And mercenaries get paid.
So they are trying to say LESS thugs with guns will make it MORE dangerous?
According to salary (dot) com, the average base salary of a Detroit Patrol Officer is $51,571. When benefits are factored in, that number becomes $73,992. I'm not aware if Detroit Police are allowed to use their police car for personal use, but if so, that cost, plus fuel should be added to that figure.
I make a little less than that and am buying a $150,000 home on 2 acres, make my car payment, credit cards, utilities, food, phone, insurance and pay $100 a week for child support and have money to spare. I also live within my means.
No, not a lot of money, but if I want to make more, I need to find a different job.
still maybe safer than cities whose police shoot unarmed citizens and sort it out later. NYC, chicago, that collage in Alabama. Just saying.
Please! Give me ONE reason to EVER visit Detroit?!
The Detroit Institute of Arts, Henry Ford Museum, and Greenfield Village. Figure a day at each of the latter two venues. So, you've got three reasons instead of the one you asked for.
And don't miss the bohemian bars and restaurants around Wayne State U and don't forget to visit Greek Town.
Detroit is beyond repairable....what a joke of a city...and I was born there and worked there for a few years....and met my wife there....thank god she took the leap with me and left....never looked back although my in-laws are nearby.
Oh lets see what do Detroit and Flint have in common? The auto industry gave the US the big FU and moved jobs over seas. And the conservative agenda has worked tirelessly for the last forty years to reduce the tax burden on the wealthy that further shrinks the the tax base. The result, not enough tax revenue to support basic city services. This is the story of many cities across the nation. The tax burden on the wealthy is the lowest since the 30's. Regulation is at an all time low. If the conservative agenda is soooo great we should be going gangbusters. How low does our country have to sink before people realize that trickle down is a lie. If you vote for the conservative agenda, you vote for the US becoming a third world nation. Vote Romney and the conditions in Detroit and Flint will becoming to a town near you soon. For third world status vote Romney 2012.
Wrong- typical blame economic woes on Conservatives - do you want the truth of the demise of Detroit? simple demographics. Detroit is 82.7% Black and 10% white- end of story. I know that hurts and people will scream racism.That is the elephant in the room. If Detroit was 80% white, we would not be having this blog. The truth is now, no one wants to live, or work, or invest, or visit this once great city.
Easy Celtic... I feel another Sarrah post coming on (Jibber jabber... I love Detroit!!!)
Democan..... how is it that all of the Republican Governors and mayors can balance budgets and the big City Dem's can't and won't. Your President has not even offerd up a budget in the four years he has been in charge. Where else in America can you blame all of your failures on the guy that held your job 4 years ago? My neighbor is a Cop in a city southwest of Detroit and he works 12 hour days..... no problem. It equals more days off per month and they like it that way. Detroit is no more a dangerous place working 8 am to 8 pm than it was from 9 to 5 ! It is embarasing that the Police Union would make these comments against " their City ". Their response time had to be the worst in the counrty before these changes and now, all of a sudden they can't keep up. Go find another job!
Reallydemocan? obama has us closer to 3rd world than ever and that's his goal. He doesn't want us to have a higher standard of living than the rest of the world. Unions, taxes and regulations, along with the companies themselves are what hurt the auto industry, NAFTA and GATT signed into law by Bill Clinton and what sent the jobs overseas. Next?
Well so much for the primary job of the government to protect innocent law abiding citizens. This is so pitiful that our country has degraded to a level where money is more important than people. I myself would stop paying the state tax, being so understaffed they would not bother to arrest me.
Where is batman when you need him?
It was no different when they were "fully staffed". Three hour response times? Please, get a better excuse. I know wonderful they are. I lived there in the 80's and that's how long they took to come out after my 911 call on a Saturday afternoon in the fall of '89. No regrets for leaving THAT little piece o' heaven.....
Please also bear in mind that the police, wherever they are are in this country, are NOT legally obligated to defend anyone's life unless they have a prior agreement (in writing) to provide such protection.
"The state treasurer has threatened Detroit Police Officers with another 10% wage cut for going to court to protect their rights," the DPOA manifesto reads."
LOL. They really don't care do they?
I know times are hard and sacrifices and cuts must be made. But when you have the second highest crime rate in the entire country, those cuts should NOT include law enforcement...at least not to include taking uniforms off the street. This country is in steep decline. Sign of the times.
Detroit has had a democrat mayor since 1962. But that certainly has nothing to do with their problems. No, no. Just a mere coincidence.
Be careful.. the liberals will label you as racist....lol
Won't be the first time...
And it won't be any more accurate.
The problem here is that the population of Detroit are a part of the 47% that don't deserve police protection. They are leaches and moochers and can't take responsibility for their own welfare. The only folks that are worthy of protection live in gated and walled communities outside of Detroit, already have good protection, and are card-carrying members of the GOP. And since they have good protection already, the need for more police in Detroit doesn't really exist.
Be sure to elect Mr. Romney so we all can have the benefits of this sort of thinking.
problem is, there are too many of the '47%' and not enough of the '1%'......
No speed traps ? That must make the detroit donut eaters mad as hell, they can't stop people for a petty speeding ticket, when they should be catching murderers. No wonder they were laid off.
Ahhhhh....the big ole Elephant in the room that no one sees and if they do, do not acknowledge. The floor is caving in and the @$#%& stinks awful.
Detroit is a walk in the park compared to Chicago
Chicago is run by............
Conservative utopia. Cut more govt. Let's do this across the U.S. Vote for Mitt Romney!!!
Detroit has had a democrat mayor since 1962. So how's that working out for them?
ROTFLAMO
Detroit has a VERY liberal and corrupt city government. Just as they tie Chicago in violence they also vie for first place in indicted officials.
Nice try but this is the future America can expect from obamnomics and policies.
Vote for more Black politicians
You must be one of the stupidest people alive, Detroit is the poster child for dems and libs. This is the RESULT of that mindset.
Detroit: negrocracy at its finest. A hellhole run by a corrupt and grossly incompetent municipal government that plays the race card to guilt trip black voters into voting for them. I'm never in favour of the federal government taking a heavy-handed approach toward state and local governments, but things have gotten so bad in Detroit (and also in New Orleans) that the feds should move in and take over control from the corrupt and incompetent city government.
Negrocracy! That was the word I've been searching for! You, ma'am, I salute!
I think you're wrong about GUILTING them into voting. Kwame was their HERO, EVEN AFTER all the dirt in his first term, they re elected him again!! It wasn't even about just black, it was about ghettorat black, he beat Freeman Hendrix a respectable black businessman.
Would anyone expect anything different from a BLACK-RUN city? Can anyone name one black-run nation that is a first world nation?
There are good black politicians (e.g. Obama, Artur Davis, Kweisi Mifume, Allen West, JC Watts, Duval Patrick, Jim Clyburn here in South Carolina, Benny Thompson) and there are negrocrats (the Kilpatricks, John Conyers, Kurt Shmoke, Ray Nagin, Marion Barry and Jesse Jackson (father and son)). Detroit's ignorant voters have elected a string of bad guys to the municipal government since the late 1960s and they've always gotten what they paid for. Don't condemn ALL african-american run governments as bad.
No, but I can named thousands of countries that white men have run into the ground. Black people have fought and died for this country and after the wars they were relegated to the slums and America re-built the countries that we went to war against. So, don't give me no trash about black run cities, states, or countries. White men, yes, I said it, white men have been responsible for more destruction than anyone in the entire world. Poverty, drugs, crime, murder, war, death, those are all things that white men have subjected the world to, not the powerless black man. The only reason that the white men in America has not been convicted of human rights crimes or crimes against humanity is because they are the one in power. But believe me the reign of the white man is coming to an end, and they will pay for the injustices that have done to the people of this country and around the world.