Detroit churches, police seek to change 'No snitching' culture

BY NIRAJ WARIKOO

DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Concerned about the culture of anti-snitching in parts of Detroit, 86 churches are uniting today with Detroit Police to urge people to report criminals.Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee is joining church leaders and Crime Stoppers this morning at Third New Hope Baptist Church to announce their efforts to fight crime.

"Many citizens are afraid to speak up when they see crime due to fear of retaliation based on the misguided ‘No snitching’ code of the streets," Chief Godbee said. "We collectively have to change this phenomenon.”

In some communities, it's considered improper to report crimes to the police, a mind-set that needs to change, say police and church leaders.

Source: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2011110504013