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