Detroit police special units could be disbanded (?)

**Zacha341** · January-06-13, 07:12 AM

Say what?! Two teen honor students killed in 36 hours, a Navy Petty officer the day before that. We're disbanding what? Really???

Could gang squad an other special units be dissolved in order to get more boots on the street. Fox 2 obtained an email sources tell us is a DPD in-house email which reads, "Effective Mon. Feb 4 officers from these units will be reassigned: gang enforcement, tac mobile and narcotics."

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20...d-be-disbanded

**corktownyuppie** · January-06-13, 07:53 AM

Well, DPD is saying that they're disbanding the units in favor of more everyday patrol instead of special targeted squads. Is this better or worse for the crime map? I don't know. I truly don't know.

BRING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-06-13, 08:15 AM

The gang squad needs to be disbanded. They are a bunch of old guys trying to look like they are 20. Nearly all of them are black. Detroit's gang activity is not exclusively done by old black guys!

This ain't 21 Jump Street, not by a long shot.

**Zacha341** · January-06-13, 08:27 AM

^^^ Compelling point. For sure this ain't TV.

**Meddle** · January-06-13, 09:09 AM

Whatever puts more feets on the streets. Most (if not all) radio room operators are sworn POs; put them on the street and put civilians on the radios.

All command staff should be on the streets, up to and including the Chief. There is no reason they can't handle calls at least a shift or two each week. Cut the funny stuff in the offices and get competent clerks and administrative assistants to handle the daily drudgery.

Put SRT members on routine patrol instead of being a full time unit that may or may not be needed daily.

Pull all security detail members from the Clowncil and reassign them to the streets.

ALL sworn DPD members should be doing street patrol no matter what their other normal duties might have been with the exception of detectives in Homicide and other violent crimes units.

Vice could probably be disbanded also or at least substantially reduced. No need to be dealing with hookers unless they're also robbing their clients.

Arrange with the Jail to send a transport van to the precincts to pick up prisoners so DPD units don't have to waste an hour or two for each arrest taking them downtown.

**corktownyuppie** · January-06-13, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Whatever puts more feets on the streets. Most (if not all) radio room operators are sworn POs; put them on the street and put civilians on the radios.

All command staff should be on the streets, up to and including the Chief. There is no reason they can't handle calls at least a shift or two each week. Cut the funny stuff in the offices and get competent clerks and administrative assistants to handle the daily drudgery.

Put SRT members on routine patrol instead of being a full time unit that may or may not be needed daily.

Pull all security detail members from the Clowncil and reassign them to the streets.

ALL sworn DPD members should be doing street patrol no matter what their other normal duties might have been with the exception of detectives in Homicide and other violent crimes units.

Vice could probably be disbanded also or at least substantially reduced. No need to be dealing with hookers unless they're also robbing their clients.

Arrange with the Jail to send a transport van to the precincts to pick up prisoners so DPD units don't have to waste an hour or two for each arrest taking them downtown.

Every single one of these is a good idea.

**canuck** · January-06-13, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Every single one of these is a good idea.

Yep, especially when you factor in the necessary court appearances and concomitant delays in the courtrooms, sheesh!

**deep6six** · January-06-13, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Whatever puts more feets on the streets. Most (if not all) radio room operators are sworn POs; put them on the street and put civilians on the radios.

All command staff should be on the streets, up to and including the Chief. There is no reason they can't handle calls at least a shift or two each week. Cut the funny stuff in the offices and get competent clerks and administrative assistants to handle the daily drudgery.

Put SRT members on routine patrol instead of being a full time unit that may or may not be needed daily.

Pull all security detail members from the Clowncil and reassign them to the streets.

ALL sworn DPD members should be doing street patrol no matter what their other normal duties might have been with the exception of detectives in Homicide and other violent crimes units.

Vice could probably be disbanded also or at least substantially reduced. No need to be dealing with hookers unless they're also robbing their clients.

Arrange with the Jail to send a transport van to the precincts to pick up prisoners so DPD units don't have to waste an hour or two for each arrest taking them downtown.

My heart goes out to the three families involved in these CRUSHING events over the last few days.

These are great ideas. I sincerely hope our leaders have to courage to implement ideas like this.

**Meddle** · January-06-13, 10:16 AM

Gotta believe moral would go up also when patrol units start seeing Command officers back them up on routine calls. Right now, street level units tend to feel inferior and unappreciated -- like the brass is above them in more ways then just rank.

I'd also reduce the number of unmarked cars in the fleet. More marked units means higher visibility which can be a deterrent. Stealth has a place also, so some unmarked units are needed.

Certain known drug locations would get enhanced presence with marked units passing through every few minutes whenever possible.

To control costs, detectives and other units that do not need emergency response equipment would get smaller, less expensive 'non-cruiser' cars with equipment limited to little more than a radio.

**Gannon** · January-06-13, 11:48 AM

I was shocked at this...at first...but after thinking about it for a moment, it makes sense for at least the Gang and Narcotics groups to simply go away. Especially after the decriminalization vote on cannabis!

Tactical is still a requirement in today's age, and might be necessary to qualify for Homeland Insecurity funding and support.

While obviously not the same as a coherent, dedicated full-time team, can it be done on an ad-hoc basis...assembling a response team of the best-of-the-best who would be on-call from their other responsibilities when the need arises?! Kinda like how a volunteer fireperson squad works? Or surely how it happens in GPP and other communities where the police are cross-trained for fire duty? (although I've not seen any fire activity here in almost three years, I have no idea how they function in dual roles)

Cheers

**Gannon** · January-06-13, 11:50 AM

I would, however, like them to increase the traffic enforcement division...since that is a revenue-enhancer...as much as I hate thinking of traffic laws as such, the system is certainly structured to levy a quick "driver's tax" on the populace without much effort. One where the "loop-hole to avoid" becomes simply behaving on the road!

**Meddle** · January-06-13, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

While obviously not the same as a coherent, dedicated full-time team, can it be done on an ad-hoc basis...assembling a response team of the best-of-the-best who would be on-call from their other responsibilities when the need arises?!

SRT (known as SWAT, ERT or other names in other departments) are usually on-call. They work normal patrol or investigative duties full time, but are activated when the need arises. Problem is, tactical teams are being used more and more for non-tactical operations like serving warrants. In times past, tactical teams were only called out in cases of a barricaded gunman and/or hostage situations.

**Wesley Mouch** · January-06-13, 01:21 PM

If only they would innovate when their feet weren't to the fire.

**Russix** · January-07-13, 04:10 PM

How about getting the illiterate idiot doing paperwork at 36th District back out on patrol? Seriously what the hell is the reading requirement for this job?

**Richard** · January-07-13, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

SRT (known as SWAT, ERT or other names in other departments) are usually on-call. They work normal patrol or investigative duties full time, but are activated when the need arises. Problem is, tactical teams are being used more and more for non-tactical operations like serving warrants. In times past, tactical teams were only called out in cases of a barricaded gunman and/or hostage situations.

Orlando has "The Duke Boys" Tampa has the "Green Team" dressed in green uniforms.

They pick a neighborhood or sub division and acting on tips from street patrol or neighbors they research and pick their targets and when it comes clean up time they hit hard and fast blocking off streets in a 10 block radius,drug house gets hit and back open up the next day? Not gonna happen they will hit it hard everyday for a week.

I have seen them take really rough neighborhoods where you did not walk around after dark and clean them out and really turn an area around fast.It really helps the beat LEO because they can then concentrate on other matters other then the same place day after day.

But one can see why SRT is needed to serve warrants with all of the crazy's.

If you look on DP website they have a graph that shows crime has actually been decreasing over the last several years.

**slick** · January-08-13, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Richard

Orlando has "The Duke Boys" Tampa has the "Green Team" dressed in green uniforms.

They pick a neighborhood or sub division and acting on tips from street patrol or neighbors they research and pick their targets and when it comes clean up time they hit hard and fast blocking off streets in a 10 block radius,drug house gets hit and back open up the next day? Not gonna happen they will hit it hard everyday for a week.

I have seen them take really rough neighborhoods where you did not walk around after dark and clean them out and really turn an area around fast.It really helps the beat LEO because they can then concentrate on other matters other then the same place day after day.

But one can see why SRT is needed to serve warrants with all of the crazy's.

If you look on DP website they have a graph that shows crime has actually been decreasing over the last several years.

That is the original concept for TMU, Tactical Mobile Units, I think that transformed into SRT. More precinct cops with the Big 4 to back them up. It worked in the old days and ways.

**corktownyuppie** · January-08-13, 05:13 PM

One thing I like about it is that it is proactive. Does DPD have any comparable practices?

**jackie5275** · January-08-13, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

I would, however, like them to increase the traffic enforcement division...since that is a revenue-enhancer...as much as I hate thinking of traffic laws as such, the system is certainly structured to levy a quick "driver's tax" on the populace without much effort. One where the "loop-hole to avoid" becomes simply behaving on the road!

Yes, put them on revenue patrol just like Allen Park & Dearborn Heights are on it.

**Richard** · January-08-13, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by slick

That is the original concept for TMU, Tactical Mobile Units, I think that transformed into SRT. More precinct cops with the Big 4 to back them up. It worked in the old days and ways.

The thing is you need SWAT and they need to be able to move at any given second,kinda hard to do serving warrants.So they are on standby ready to move or can be used as back up in heavy situations.

Maybe what they could do is form two teams of 15 from the units they are disbanding and use the expertise from the personal on the existing IE: 1 person from the gang squad would be on each team etc.

Forget about chasing the warrants aspect for a second ,your team does its surveillance on a target neighborhood they know right away who is who and they are not concerned with somebody walking down the street with a joint they identify the targets,whether it be a drug house or gang house ,because that is what kills a neighborhood usually one or to hard cases.

They also have their pictures of those wanted on warrants so when the day comes nobody that is not involved becomes friendly fire and their is no profiling or unnecessary targeting. They know exactly who is going to be picked up.

Granted long term you are going to need some of the specific units back in play but the here and now is you need to hit and hit hard with the biggest impact kinda like a temporary sweep to get it under control and ahead of the push then you can reevaluate and go back to a more reactive stance because long term you need the time to build cases with the gangs etc. But it is evident by the daily news and what you guys are saying a nice sweep and getting the message out might go a long ways cost effectively.

Three teams SWAT , team One and team two Swat backs up the local beat LEO in blocking off the area while the other team or teams go in SWAT mission here is to back up the beat LEO because they have the fire power if needed but they cannot be involved in the take downs because they would not be familiar with the targets and it would be risky for residents who have no involvement.

Part of it is physiological,if you are in a neighborhood and being a part of not allowing the rest of the neighborhood to enjoy their life and peace in a respectable way then you know in the back of your mind this group is coming after you maybe not today or tomorrow but they will and you will go down hard. Kinda puts a damper on things.

My thoughts anyways.

Ever notice that ever sense the Gov went after organized crime it has been just so unorganized and out of control.

**Gannon** · January-08-13, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by jackie5275

Yes, put them on revenue patrol just like Allen Park & Dearborn Heights are on it.

And Redford, Livonia, Royal Oak, Harper Woods, Roseville...and every other of the 'functional' ringburbs! It works for everyone else, and the city has the greatest numbers of fierce abusers...along with the greatest need for income!

**Meddle** · January-08-13, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Richard

Orlando has "The Duke Boys" Tampa has the "Green Team" dressed in green uniforms.

They pick a neighborhood or sub division and acting on tips from street patrol or neighbors they research and pick their targets and when it comes clean up time they hit hard and fast blocking off streets in a 10 block radius,drug house gets hit and back open up the next day? Not gonna happen they will hit it hard everyday for a week.

That's more like a Task Force or a Strike Team or like what STRESS was supposed to be. DPD also had the Cruisers, black cars instead of blue, with one uniformed officer and 3 plainclothes.

SRT did not come out of the TMUs as far as I know. TSS (Tactical Services Section as it was known in the 60s and 70s) also had distinctive cars. They were also known as the riot cars and would respond city wide to any type of disturbance. At some point they became known as the 8th Precinct before all the renumbering when there was not an actual Number 8. Two or three units would operate in each precinct that needed support. Going from TSS to TMU was not a whole lot more than a name change to make some pencil pusher happy.

In the late 80s, they all existed, TSS/TMU, Cruisers, SRT, Gang Squad, Narcotics/Vice, Traffic Division and probably a few others. Somewhere in there, they were playing around with the Rangers (minibikes) also.

**Richard** · January-08-13, 11:25 PM

In the eighty's there was a lot more funding as the war on drugs was shifting into second gear,but seriously minibikes? Could have at least gave the guy a horse.

**Meddle** · January-23-13, 11:07 AM

Is Bing reading this thread?

http://www.freep.com/article/2013012...yssey=nav|head

**Detroitnerd** · January-23-13, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Well, DPD is saying that they're disbanding the units in favor of more everyday patrol instead of special targeted squads. Is this better or worse for the crime map? I don't know. I truly don't know.

BRING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

Sending in a bunch of rural, white, trigger-happy Michigan National Guardsman in 1967 didn't do a whole lot of good.