Detroit Science Center may close for good. 
Here's a link to the Detroit Free Press article on this topic, followed by my letter.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110928/NEWS01/309280018/Will-Detroit-Science-Center-close-good-

Here's my Letter to the paper on this possibility.

Dear Editor:

It would be a huge loss for our community, and the future of our City were the Detroit Science Center to close for good. In my opinion, the ideal option would be for The Henry Ford museum to purchase the Science Center, and make it a satellite of their Museum and Greenfield Village operations. The Henry Ford has the name recognition, the resources, and most importantly the expertise to successfully manage and improve the Science Center. And after all, the Ford Motor Company started in the heart of Detroit. It's appropriate that Henry Ford's namesake cultural landmark have a presence in our Cultural Center.

I would definitely become a member of The Henry Ford society were this to happen.

Response to a posting on 48201 regarding a blog alleging "racial profiling" on a September 11, 2011 (10th anniversary of 9/11): http://shebshi.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/some-real-shock-and-awe-racially-profiled-and-cuffed-in-detroit/


Rather than posting on the 48201 blog, I've decided to respond here:


Although I agree it's well-worth the read,  I probably don't have the same reaction as you did, Jeanne. To be "snarky" as the writer said, I suppose we should ask everyone who is boarding a plan, "Are you a terrorist?" If they say "no" then we'll just let them on the plane. Heck, let's ask them before going through security. If they say no, then they don't even have to be "violated" nor "humiliated" by a full body scan.  From everything I read, once the officers became satisfied that this person wasn't a terrorist she was treated politely and with respect.  Yes, someone probably "profiled" this person, not because the person appeared middle Eastern, but because the 9/11 terrorists were middle Eastern. I hope this incident gets wide-coverage in the middle Eastern community. Because it says to potential terrorists: If you look or action suspicious in any way, you'll be taken off a plane, be strip-searched, and interrogated.  That's how you stop terrorism.  And that's a good thing.


******** In a following communication I wrote...

Please understand that I wasn't angered that you posted the piece. Nor was I really angered by the piece itself. A lot of my perspective, obviously, comes from law enforcement.  When responding to a situation like the author's, the first step of law enforcement is to control the situation, which means controlling the suspects.  Only after the situation has been defused, and the investigation concluded, will the agents/officers explain everything to the individuals detained. I found the author's attitude - yes, snarky, juvenile and irritating. She'll get her 15 minutes - I'm sure the news and talk shows are calling her now. The ACLU will whine about profiling, and the real terrorists will profit from this. 

Here's a late breaking article on this specific incident! http://www.freep.com/article/20110913/NEWS05/110913069/Woman-profiled-strip-searched-9-11-FBI-says-treated-her-well?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Detroit crime: More Cops on the Street the answer?


Here's a letter I sent to the Detroit News on September 5, 2011:

Dear Editor:

The simplistic response to crime is to demand "more cops on the street."  A better response, and really not much more complex, is  to demand better policing. As a twenty-five year veteran of law enforcement, I certainly realize that the roots of criminal behavior are varied and are complex. But I also realize that efficient policing can have, and has had in many cities such as Los Angeles, major success in cutting the crime rate. Here are three initiatives that I believe the Detroit Police Department should implement to cut our City's intractably embarrassingly high crime rate.

First, allow the officers-in-charge of the individual police stations to dispatch officers directly.

In the City of Detroit, if you are requesting the police to respond to any incident or complaint, even non-emergencies, you must call 911. To illustrate, I recently called the Central District to report street-walker prostitution in my neighborhood. The answering officer told me that officers cannot be dispatched from the station, and that even though this clearly was not an emergency, I should call 911. Efficient, responsive and accountable policing would allow the officer-in-charge of the station to dispatch officers directly.  This will complement and not replace the Centralized Dispatching system.

Secondly, use non-police uniformed personnel to direct traffic during downtown events, such as sporting events and festivals. Uniformed parking enforcement personnel, wearing high visibility clothes, could be easily be trained to perform this duty. This would free up more expensive uniformed police officers to perform actual law enforcement duties.

Thirdly, make aggressive traffic enforcement a priority for all uniformed personnel. Aggressive traffic enforcement increases the visibility of the police, prevents criminal activity, and often leads to the apprehension of criminals, guns, stolen property, and other contraband. Vigorous traffic enforcement should not consist of officers hiding behind a tree waiting for someone to roll through a stop sign. Rather, it should be high visibility enforcement of not only moving violations, but equipment, registration and even pedestrian violations. 

In fact, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the role of traffic enforcement in combating crime. The IACP's Traffic Services Manual states:  "Today, police departments have become increasingly aware that alert and proactive traffic law enforcement is also an excellent tool to detect and apprehend those who have committed criminal acts, as well as to deter crimes before they happen, by “looking beyond the license plate” in every traffic stop."

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

Thomas E. Page

Retired, Los Angeles Police Department

Former Detroit Police Officer

Lifetime Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police