DETROIT (WJBK) -- Detroit's chief of police is shifting resources. Wednesday, Interim Chief Chester Logan and Mayor Dave Bing unveiled a new plan to fight crime in the city.
The goal is to get as many of the department's officers out of the precincts and on the streets either patrolling neighborhoods or investigating crimes.
"A lot of the printed media is you can't walk down the street in the city of Detroit. Nothing could be farther from the truth," says Bing.
Unless you're Cassandra Taylor.
"I stay close to home. I don't venture out very much because of all the carjackings. It doesn't happen just at night anymore. It's all during the day, early morning, afternoons, it doesn't matter."
She lives in a neighborhood on Detroit's west side near Seven Mile where gangs are taking a toll and crime is a reality.
"A lot of B&Es and I've been hearing about a lot of murders going on over here, like unsolved murders," says another resident.
DPD is eliminating specialized units like Gang Squad and TAC Mobile and putting them back on patrol. Logan says that will mean about 100 or more officers back on the streets.
"We want to make sure that every person who could be put on patrol is in patrol," he explains.
The department is also beefing up its homicide division, doubling the number of detectives without making any new hires.
Taylor says she's glad there will be more officers on patrol, but the idea of losing Gang Squad just as gangs in her neighborhood are gaining strength has her worried.
"They know how to decipher what all this graffiti means. I guess that's how the gangs tag their territory, and they know how to decipher who is where and whatever," she says. "I definitely would not like to see them disbanded."
"The idea is and the mindset is now with Gang Squad being decentralized, put back to the commands, the commanders know exactly what the issues are in their respective districts and precincts," says Commander Frankie Lewis.
The first phase of this plan will take effect at the beginning of March.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:31 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:31:06 GMT
Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr is working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
As Kevyn Orr tries to solve Detroit's financial crisis, he is also working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
Friday, June 14 2013 10:25 PM EDT2013-06-15 02:25:13 GMT
A team led by a state-appointed emergency manager said Friday that Detroit is defaulting on about $2.5 billion in unsecured debt and is asking creditors to take about 10 cents on the dollar of what the city owes them.
A team led by a state-appointed emergency manager said Friday that Detroit is defaulting on about $2.5 billion in unsecured debt and is asking creditors to take about 10 cents on the dollar of what the city owes them.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:38 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:38:44 GMT
After initially defying federal regulators, Chrysler abruptly agreed Tuesday to recall some older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.
After initially defying federal regulators, Chrysler abruptly agreed Tuesday to recall some older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires in rear-end collisions.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:29 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:29:11 GMT
An angry pastor is trying to keep his cool. He is mad at whoever tore apart his air conditioning unit to steal the copper, but he also says the entire community shares the blame.
An angry pastor is trying to keep his cool. He is mad at whoever tore apart his air conditioning unit to steal the copper, but he also says the entire community shares the blame.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:46:58 GMT
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:26 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:26:33 GMT
The latest dig in the search for former Teamsters' boss Jimmy Hoffa will resume on Wednesday in an Oakland Township field. So far, crews have found two concrete slabs and animal bones.
The latest dig in the search for former Teamsters' boss Jimmy Hoffa will resume on Wednesday in an Oakland Township field. So far, crews have found two concrete slabs and animal bones.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 4:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 20:54:19 GMT
Who will open for Bon Jovi at Ford Field on July 18? Your vote will decide. 20 bands left in the Fox Rocks contest. Voting period: Now through July 10. Time to 'Fox Rocks' the vote.
Who will open for Bon Jovi at Ford Field on July 18? Your vote will decide. 20 bands left in the Fox Rocks contest. Voting period: Now through July 10. Time to 'Fox Rocks' the vote.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:20:44 GMT
Detroit Metropolitan Airport officials evacuated a section of the McNamara Terminal Tuesday morning after a canine picked up the scent of explosives on the apron, where planes load.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport officials evacuated a section of the McNamara Terminal Tuesday morning after a canine picked up the scent of explosives on the apron, where planes load.
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(Credit: WJBK|myFOXDetroit.com) Detroit Mayor Dave Bing
