More Cops on the Street is NOT the Answer

Letter to the Detroit News sent on October 9, 2012
Dear Editor:

"More cops on the street" is NOT the answer to our City's crime problem. 

Although I certainly support the deployment of additional police officers, I believe, as Councilman Gary Brown has said, that the Department currently has sufficient resources to aggressively combat crime. It's a fact that Detroit has more police officers per capita than many cities. What matters more than raw numbers of officers, is how, where, and when those officers are deployed, and what is expected of the officers.  The Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety, known as DDACTS, is an example of intelligent policing which identifies crime hot spots, and suggests simple strategies, including aggressive traffic enforcement, in response. The Detroit Police Department needs to evolve  from its reactive, 911 call-centered approach to a proactive style which recognizes that police can actually prevent crimes.

There are many qualified law enforcement professionals around the country who would embrace the challenge of leading Detroit's policing efforts.  The DPD needs a culture change. Promoting from within the Department is not the way to institute that change.  

Thomas E. Page

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News on October 3, 2012. This letter is in response to Mayor Bing's suspension of Chief Godbee, apparently because of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a subordinate.

Dear Editor:

I hope that Mayor Bing's suspension of Police Chief Godbee is simply a prelude to his termination. Not only has Chief Godbee repeatedly demonstrated that he lacks sufficient character to serve as Police Chief, he has been ineffective in carrying out the Department's mission of "protecting and serving."  

On September 20 and 21, 2012, Wayne State University hosted a comprehensive conference on Detroit's crime crisis. Many proven and simple-to-implement ideas to combat crime were presented by eminent scholars and law enforcement practitioners, including George Kelling of "Broken Windows" fame, WSU Police Chief Tony Holt, and former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton. 

The response of Detroit Police Department Chief Godbee to these creative ideas was the same old song and dance. Chief Godbee complained about lack of resources, even though Bill Bratton pointed out that even with the cuts, Detroit has more officers per capita than other cities. 

As a veteran of law enforcement (Detroit and Los Angeles Police Departments), I have seen first hand how good policing matters, and can make a huge difference in a short period of time. A contemporary example of how effective policing can quickly and dramatically impact the homicide rate comes from our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.  Washington, D.C. experienced a 42% drop in homicides in 3 years, going from 186 in 2008 to 108 in 2011.  And that wasn't accomplished by a huge increase in the number of officers on the so-called street.

I have no confidence that the Detroit Police Department under Chief Godbee's command is willing or even capable of having a significant impact on crime. We citizens deserve better policing, and a better Police Department. Replacing Chief Godbee would be a welcome step in that direction. 

Thomas E. Page

Former Detroit Police Officer

Retired, Los Angeles Police Department

Life member, International Association of Chiefs of Police