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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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It has been coming on since LBJ was President. The "Great Society" is what it was supposed to be. Born of many idealistic notions and good intentions to have government do for people what they should be doing for themselves.
Now 47 years later we have these areas of urban blight and lawlessness. It doesn't surprise me one bit. Several generations raised in environments where there is no accountablity or respect, either for themselves, or others.
It is reduced to the laws of the jungle. Animals in concrete and asphalt juungles with electricity!
This decay is spreading faster than it can be contained. Should build fences around these places and have security patrol the perimeters.
Just a matter of time before America collapses from within!
Well stated. The path to hell is paved with good intentions. Liberalism run amock and unchecked is what has fed this problem.
Just wait until the muslims move in and take over Detroit and Flint. They will establish sharia law and control these cities with an iron fist, the only way muslim middle eastern countries can be controlled. The municipal governments will allow this to happen as some sense of order is restored. The muslim already control Dearborn this way.
Tarzan, you are right, and not only that but they will convert all the young black men to join them in their efforts. For most of them it will be a step up and killing and violence is easy for youth. The uprising from within will come and we will all be helpless.
Our president has already said he will side with his muslim brothers if it comes down to it.
Robocop and a couple ED-209's should take care of the mess in Detroit. :-P
This is what happens in the land of the free.
You come here and freeload off the people that work for a living and you get to live for free and eat bananas on your porch with government paid housing. The more children you have and unmarried the more MONEY you get, (sounds like government subsidized prostitution).
Well that will come to an end, the middle class can no longer support the freeloaders and the wealthy will just leave and come here for vacation. MAYBE
Detroit is in sad shape. But Flint is much worse off. I worked in Flint as a journalist for a while and they have so few city officers, the state police have been doing directed patrols there (budget cuts, local government corruption led to massive layoffs and union disagreements). Despite all the crime (I even got jumped there), there are some amazing people doing some incredible things to make their communities better. These stats aside, there is a neighborly spirit in the Detroit/Flint area that I have never experienced anywhere else in my life. It's humbling and something even the "cleanest most efficient" cities could learn/benefit from. My old boss at the Flint Journal shot this beautiful photojournalism essay about this spirit and you can see it here:
To find the essay
jbcook,
I find funny that you think the problem is not enough police. You must be kidding. We need honest law bidding citizens so we can do without cops. It is not fixed with more laws and law enforcement. It is fixed with adults being adults. Quit giving excuses. I have seen refugee camps without water, or the basics maintain their humanity. We have a culture bent on self destruction.
I never said it was a police problem. The lack of police is an indicator of the corruption there, however. The crux of what I was saying was this: There are some amazing people doing some incredible things to make their communities better. These stats aside, there is a neighborly spirit in the Detroit/Flint area that I have never experienced anywhere else in my life. It's humbling and something even the "cleanest most efficient" cities could learn/benefit from.
Somehow you missed that, but thanks for responding ;)
You have an interesting way of thinking. I tend to think a small police force could mean less corruption. I visite Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan, Parts of the Middle East, East Asia, towns throughtout America and found small police forces. This was not an indicator of corruption. Most was an indicator of a displined society. Our country has been on a downward spiral for a while and will not correct itself with blaming infrastructure. Each individual must do the right thing. Each person must wake up in morning and say,"What can I do to help."
Look, the government is so corrupt in Flint they don't have money for the police because those funds are likely misallocated or embezzled or simply don't exist. The police were getting laid off in droves each year (some times 50-100 officers and grants were being sought to reinstate them. They even shrunk the size of the city to cope with the blight and population flight, so some parts of the city don't even have basic services. Do the research.
Here is an excerpt from an article from 2010:
"FLINT, Michigan — One cop for every 900 residents in a city with one of the highest crime rates in the country.
That's the scenario facing Flint residents if police layoffs go into effect this month.
Flint officers already are stretched paper thin, more so than in other major Michigan cities, an analysis of 2008 population data and information from the police departments' Web sites shows.
There currently are 627 residents per officer in Flint, more than in Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw and Grand Rapids.
And if the city of Flint moves ahead with its plan to cut 57 police officers by the end of the month, that number would rise to about one officer for every 900 residents.
The national average for cities the size of Flint is about one officer for every 526 residents.
And here's another statistic: Detroit would have nearly three times more officers than Flint for every 100 violent crimes, based on 2008 FBI crime data."
You said EXCACTLY what I am saying: Each individual must do the right thing. Each person must wake up in morning and say,"What can I do to help."
Here is my "interesting way of thinking:" In the end, the peacemakers, the reformers, the daring who believe in hope- those who will help Flint or Detroit see peace and plenty again, won't be found trolling comment sections and forums. (I am Looking.right.at.you.)
</conversation>
That dump has been inhabited by scum, cretins and subhumans for decades. The scum that live there don'y qualify as humans, All they do is breed more scum and druggies.
Sooo I do not know what the 'CC' laws are in Michigan & Detroit? I would travel there only with my Smith & Wesson....!! Why aren't these people standing their ground????
Sounds like another union poly to bilk the city out of more 4 it does not have- Shocking- its alright tax those evil ultra rich people making $200K a year to make up the difference, lol.
Seriously, Romney should have a campaign ad that opens with pictures of inner-city Detroit. Just picture after picture of this hell-hole while disturbing music plays in the background. Then a narrator voice at the end that says, "Is this what you want America to become? If not, vote Romney 2012."
Detroit is sounding better all the time.
Let me guess all Dumbocrats I bet!
I feel sorry for Detroit (NOT) That's what happens when you let DummyCrats run your city and the people keep voting the same way finally paid off its the WILD WEST. Look at Chicago they cant keep people safe in Chicago either they are letting GANGS RUN WILD THRU THE STREETS. Every week a min of 2 to 5 people killed per weekend. Before you enter these cities Police should have roadblocks setup on outside of these cities handing out Bullet Proof Vest & GUNS with badges making them Deputies like the WILD WEST. Before you know it the motor city will start making armoured cars will get them making money FAST.
And just like their cousin in the other vile and corrupt union the teachers the cops lie like the little bitches they are. The teachers in this shix hole cities like Chicago tell you we need more money and for what the kids are never going to get any smarter are they? You really don't beleive that the public education system run by these vile creatures care for your childern do you? Now the cops are picking up the same song, pay us hire more or you will not be save. I got news for you all the cops in the world will never make Detriot, Chicago or any city save. What BS, and guess what cops you don't have to tell people not to go to Detriot, we won't, but thanks anyway.
Isn't Detroit another one of those "Chocolate" cities?
Detroit is DARK CHOCOLATE AND HAS AGED LIKE CHEESE
Yea just like just about everyone in this once great country, oh and they have another thing in common. They all vote for the Dumbocrats
Chris-west palm beach florida
Don't tell me you have not been to Riviera Beach lately, and your drive by's are getting worse. It is starting to get to be a habit to watch the news at 5:00 AM on channel 5 to see if it is someone you know that is pushing daises
Send in the National Guard...now! If we aren't safe in our own country, then what's the point of paying local, state and federal taxes? ...or, $600 Billion per year for the military?
The only people whining seems to be the cops and Repubs. Cant have people living free, now can we.
Good riddance to the Gestapo.
Freedom4Everyone
Good joke, the article should state that the majority are living for free on other tax payer dollars. Fact Check that. Freedom is the ability to live in peace, and they don't!
I agree with the NRA: Everyone should be armed to the teeth with 30+ round semi-automatic weapons. That'll solve all of society's problems (and make my S&W stock go up more!).
As usual some important facts left out of the story....how much does the average cop make in detriot....what is the starting base pay....what is the cost of living....to say they are the lowest paid in the country and not give up the facts to back it up makes it hard to gage if this is just a union move to get more money
A metro police force run on a budget of a 340million dollars, you can imagine they aren't paid much. The criminals and crooked cops run the city now.
Jusgt imagine, a city that did not need cops. Imagine a village that doesn't need a law enforcement.
this isnt about race its about the Union whom we can now thank for another strike against Detroit
Unfortunately (considering that I am black) you are entirely wrong.
I don't understand what the fuss is about. I live in center city Detroit and have a very peaceful lifestyle in my condo.
From unions, to politicians and political leanings, to corruption, and on and on... None of that is the problem. The problem lies with African America's inability to keep up with western culture and society. Not even on an intellectual level, but on a purely social level.
African American culture is VERY antisocial. African American culture promotes crime, promotes selling crack cocaine in our neighborhoods, and promotes the murder of black men by other black men. Personal responsibility is never advanced, yet irresponsibility is promoted on a 24 hour cycle. The social principals that allowed European/Western society to advance are nowhere to be found in African America.
Let me guess, you're a white supremacist who honestly believes the s#it you write. How pathetic that you belive you're an expert on black folks. So what's your learned view on Native Americans, Muslims, Hispanics and Gays?
I'm black. You may not like what I have to say (read my response to your post below) but that doesn't change the fact that I'm black and beautiful :)
don't be mad, we need to reexamine what we have devolved into. Until we as individuals can be impartial to that which we have become as a people, we will all be subject to this madness, and no change can be expected.
Why is the fact that you're black unfortunate? It's not what you say it's how you say it. You've made a blanket statement involving black people that reads that we are inferior as a whole and that's simply false. I was born and raised in Detroit in the 60s and 70s so I've watched the decline and the system that has accelerated it. If you look at any poor disenfranchised community no matter what race, you will find the same pathelogical violence and lawlessness especially when the people have no one to protect them. If you look at the predominantly white towns and cities where industry has fled leaving those too poor to leave or trapped by the inability to leave for whatever reason, you will find drugs, alcohol, fatherless children, uneducated violent men and a population held hostage.
It's not the African American culture. The African American culture I'm familiar with is extremely religious, hard working and family oriented.
You may be all those things you describe, but please don't feed into the stereotype handed to you by a flawed system.
I never said that being black was unfortunate. Look at the context, maybe improve your reading comprehension, but that's not what I said, nor implied. One of the biggest problems facing "African America" is the people's inability to communicate in well spoken and thought out English.
I would like to point out that while I am a black man, I do not consider myself "African American". I am American only! I refuse to accept this third world/slave status that has been foisted on us. In that regard I speak very impartially toward what I think of as "African America", it's culture, it's values, and it's realities. I speak very candidly of what I believe to be the problems in "African America" and typically "African Americans" don't really like what I have to say.
But as long as we have leaders (piece of $h*t rapper gold toofed minstrels) who promote the destruction of black people and black communities with the advancement, promotion and glorification of prison/thug/gang/ghetto/criminal culture, I will continue to speak out against this travesty.
I never feed stereotypes. You've heard very few black people, maybe none, with the opinions and view point that I espouse. In fact, you've probably never encountered a black man with the command of the English language that I have (not that I'm some linguist, but with the way that "African America" deigns to butcher the language....). Unfortunately, "African America" has been told by it's leaders (worthless rapping gold toofed minstrels) that it doesn't need to know English. It doesn't need to know how to communicate. African America has been told lie after lie by it's leaders (those worthy of immediate hell) that it doesn't need to do anything. African America has been told that white people will bend over backwards to ensure it's comfort and well being.
African America has been lied to and led right back into chains (75% single parent homes, black men have killed 250,000 other black men since 1976, 20% poverty, spinners, etc. etc.)
I wondered how long it would take before the lunatic rants and hateful comments emerged. Over the last two decades Detroit has been in a steady decline and the housing bubble hit that city very hard. More than half the schools have been closed and the population that can move to where the jobs are do, leaving behind a massive pocket of poverty. There is little to no public transportation out of the city and if you think your city would continue to function without a police force you're either blind or stupid. As far as the massive incarcerations for everything from parking tickets to jay walking it's a feeding ground for the corporate prison system.
And it is impossible to run even a small town police force with 340 million dollars let alone a large metro area like Detroit. The Govenor spends more than that on stationary. Just saying.
All of those problems obviously exist. And yet, with a city FULL of black people, we wait around for white people to take care of us. If white people won't take care of us, than we'll just let the city rot. Once it's completely rotten, black people will leave, and white people will return and rebuild.
As far as education, I witnessed the $2Billion spent in K.C. schools, and the black students still could not hold up their end of the bargain. At one point they were spending $10,000 per student per year, turned the schools into magnate schools, built top notch science and history facilities, etc. etc.
Black people have no interest in any of that stuff. Even when white people build it and fund it for us.
This what liberals dont understand. You never understand that whenever you enter any place you enter at your own risk. The cops get to the crime to clean things up. You are already dead. I choose to live in a place where I can ccw. That way if I die then it is partly my fault. Either I wasnt packing that day or I did not get the jump on the ahole.
hey what is new detroit was a sh-t hole 30 years ago it looks like a war zone down town cops or no cops
THE LADY STATES IN ARTICLE WE HAVE RETURN TOURIST BUT SHE FORGOT TO SAY
WHO THEY ARE
repeat tourist our the criminals NO POLICE TO STOP THEM(hahahaha)