DPS Police in Canton.

**reddog289** · September-23-12, 02:15 AM

While driving on westbound Michigan Ave on Saturday in Canton. I had to pull over to the side of the road, Because I saw many lights flashing in my rear view mirror. Turns out it was DPS Police leading and blocking for a funeral. Does anyone know whom had passed?
I think it was the quickest funeral procession that I have witnessed. 4 DPS cars, a hearse and maybe 3 limos, all traveling at a high rate of speed.

**Meddle** · September-23-12, 06:40 AM

Does anyone know whom had passed?

Doesn't really matter. No reason for such reckless conduct, especially so far outside their jurisdiction.

Whoever it is was dead, so there really wasn't any hurry, right?

**Scottathew** · September-23-12, 07:01 AM

Doesn't make sense. Such scarce DPS resources should be dedicated to doing what they supposed to be doing.

Hopefully this doesn't sound too insensitive, but if they want to go to a funeral, they can do so on their own time in their own vehicles.

**ThisIsForTheHeart** · September-23-12, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by 48091

Doesn't make sense. Such scarce DPS resources should be dedicated to doing what they supposed to be doing.

Hopefully this doesn't sound too insensitive, but if they want to go to a funeral, they can do so on their own time in their own vehicles.

That's how I feel about Warren, Sterling heights, Troy and any other municipal office who misuse tax payer vehicles to go pick up Pizza or some groceries.

**jcole** · September-23-12, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by reddog289

While driving on westbound Michigan Ave on Saturday in Canton. I had to pull over to the side of the road, Because I saw many lights flashing in my rear view mirror. Turns out it was DPS Police leading and blocking for a funeral. Does anyone know whom had passed?
I think it was the quickest funeral procession that I have witnessed. 4 DPS cars, a hearse and maybe 3 limos, all traveling at a high rate of speed.

The Detroit Public Schools has a police department?

**MidTownMs** · September-23-12, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

The Detroit Public Schools has a police department?

That's exactly what I said when I read the post. I didn't know that. Is this new? I lived in Detroit up until 5 months ago and I never saw any DPS cars.

**Scottathew** · September-23-12, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by jcole

The Detroit Public Schools has a police department?

Yes. It's all a part of the inefficiency that is Detroit. Detroit LOVES to duplicate services. For example, Detroit also has its own "Public Lighting Department" as well as it's own power grid that is separate from the DTE grid. So instead of leaving power generation and transmission to the experts, they do it themselves and that's why you see news stories about public buildings in Detroit going without power for a day or two.

Another example that I found out is that the Detroit Public Library system has its own, completely separate IT department.

It wouldn't surprise me if the larger departments in Detroit have their own payroll and legal departments separate from the larger legal and payroll departments.

I've seen quite a few brand spanking new "DPS Police" Dodge Chargers going up and down I-75 clogging up the flow of traffic as idiots refuse to speed near them.

Many school systems do have their own security staff, but don't have their own police department. For example, my wife works for Ferndale Schools. Ferndale has their own security staff. They get paid a lot less than cops. Their authority is also a lot less. But their job is just to watch out for stuff, and on occasion they get the police involved if the situation warrants it. Ferndale also has police liaison that makes visits and has an office in the high school. The liaison is an officer of the Ferndale Police Department, not of the school.

**Scottathew** · September-23-12, 08:20 AM

Here are some highlights from the DPS Police website:

- The new DPS Police command center, built in 2011, cost $5.6 million dollars
- DPS Police have a fleet of Motorcycles that help them keep students safe...
- DPS Police has 98 Police Officers
- 51 officers are on 24x7 "patrols"
- 47 officers are stationed at schools
- DPS Police has its own K-9 units
- There was a recent $41.7 million dollar district-wide safety initiative

All this is dedicated only to DPS assets, which continue to get pillaged, and not able to help out all the average Joe's that need more police.

Source: http://detroitk12.org/admin/dpspd/

**MidTownMs** · September-23-12, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by 48091

Here are some highlights from the DPS Police website:

- The new DPS Police command center, built in 2011, cost $5.6 million dollars
- DPS Police have a fleet of Motorcycles that help them keep students safe...
- DPS Police has 98 Police Officers
- 51 officers are on 24x7 "patrols"
- 47 officers are stationed at schools
- DPS Police has its own K-9 units
- There was a recent $41.7 million dollar district-wide safety initiative

All this is dedicated only to DPS assets, which continue to get pillaged, and not able to help out all the average Joe's that need more police.

Source: http://detroitk12.org/admin/dpspd/

There are almost as many DPS officers as DPS students.

**jcole** · September-23-12, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by 48091

Here are some highlights from the DPS Police website:

- The new DPS Police command center, built in 2011, cost $5.6 million dollars
- DPS Police have a fleet of Motorcycles that help them keep students safe...
- DPS Police has 98 Police Officers
- 51 officers are on 24x7 "patrols"
- 47 officers are stationed at schools
- DPS Police has its own K-9 units
- There was a recent $41.7 million dollar district-wide safety initiative

All this is dedicated only to DPS assets, which continue to get pillaged, and not able to help out all the average Joe's that need more police.

Source: http://detroitk12.org/admin/dpspd/

I don't see any DPS Police cars listed there; only motorcycles. So were the cars in the procession DPS or DPD?
Nevermind; I googled and found the cars.

**Hamtragedy** · September-23-12, 10:35 AM

I've seen those cars doing 40 down residential streets and blowing stop signs in the University District. I've called their office a few times to let them know how careless that is. I've also seen them flying down the Davison at a pretty high speed [[I usually do 70 and all I see is tail lights).

**De'troiter** · September-23-12, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by reddog289

While driving on westbound Michigan Ave on Saturday in Canton. I had to pull over to the side of the road, Because I saw many lights flashing in my rear view mirror. Turns out it was DPS Police leading and blocking for a funeral. Does anyone know whom had passed?
I think it was the quickest funeral procession that I have witnessed. 4 DPS cars, a hearse and maybe 3 limos, all traveling at a high rate of speed.

It didn't have to be anyone special, just 2weeks ago one of my relatives died of cancer, and we had the police escorts. It is not a free service, each car that you seen was paid for by the family. The purpose of the escort, is to limit accidents and to stop rude people from interrupting the funeral procession. Our funeral was interrupted by a very rude person in the suburbs. The person cut into the procession nearly causing a major pile up, then led Detroit Police on a mini-chase up Ryan Rd. all in the suburbs!

**MidTownMs** · September-23-12, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by De'troiter

It didn't have to be anyone special, just 2weeks ago one of my relatives died of cancer, and we had the police escorts. It is not a free service, each car that you seen was paid for by the family. The purpose of the escort, is to limit accidents and to stop rude people from interrupting the funeral procession. Our funeral was interrupted by a very rude person in the suburbs. The person cut into the procession nearly causing a major pile up, then led Detroit Police on a mini-chase up Ryan Rd. all in the suburbs!

I'm confused...are we talking about DPD or DPS police officers??? The original post said DPS and this post is about DPD???? Please clarify...thank you

**De'troiter** · September-23-12, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by MidTownMs

I'm confused...are we talking about DPD or DPS police officers??? The original post said DPS and this post is about DPD???? Please clarify...thank you

For the funeral I referenced it was DPD. The difference may be that the particular Funeral Home that the latter funeral was arranged by, does its business with the DPS Department, I really don't know. I can guarantee you that it was not free though.

**SWMAP** · September-23-12, 12:22 PM

This "service" is an honor guard that has developed over the last 30 years and it has certainly been free. It was supposed to end with the severe cuts to the DPS. No Detroit police officer directs traffic in Canton.

**De'troiter** · September-23-12, 12:39 PM

Here is a link to a video on youtube of a escorts similar to the service that my family recieved well into Warren, at 13mile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7DEV5JPzAI just this month.

**MidTownMs** · September-23-12, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

This "service" is an honor guard that has developed over the last 30 years and it has certainly been free. It was supposed to end with the severe cuts to the DPS. No Detroit police officer directs traffic in Canton.

When you say DPS are you talking about Department of Public Safety or Detroit Public Schools? An earlier poster said that he/she didn't know that the Detroit Public Schools had a police department. Please clarify because this gets more confusing with every post.

**Detroitnerd** · September-23-12, 12:50 PM

I feel the same way about the FBI-identified car, with a special sign in the dash saying it can't be ticketed. I regularly see it around lunchtime outside Bouzouki Lounge.

**reddog289** · September-23-12, 01:24 PM

It cleary said Detroit Public Schools Police on the patrol car that blocked the intersection in front of me. Thats why I was wondering who had died and what the big hurry was.

**reddog289** · September-23-12, 01:38 PM

The car in question was this color and was a Ford instead of a Dodge.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/image...mb=rIFhR0Ms3w0

**jcole** · September-23-12, 01:56 PM

This image is supposedly a Detroit Public School K-9 car, but I don't see schools listed on the medallion; it says Department of Safety.

**Meddle** · September-23-12, 02:06 PM

De'troiter, Dude, we're not talking about POLICE protecting a long procession from cars cutting in at intersections. We're talking about school cops recklessly escorting a hearse and two limos at near pursuit speeds far, far outside their district. Rather than aiding safety, they may have been putting many people at risk unnecessarily.

Personally, I don't believe in processions at all. Give everybody a map to the funeral home, church and cemetery and let them get there on their own. There is NO excuse at all for blue light escorts, let alone at high speed.

**Wesley Mouch** · September-23-12, 04:28 PM

DPS has a police department, and I've worked with them in the past. They are very good at dealing with issues with students, as you might expect. There's nothing unreasonable about a security department / police department for a major school district any more than its unreasonable for the Medical Center or Ford Motor.

**reddog289** · September-24-12, 01:18 AM

Ive known that Detroit Public Schools have had their own Police force for awhile. Yet I never expected to see them in Canton. For the matter of record, I'm a custodian in the area where I witnessed this whole deal. Not that I care that DPS is in my area, Or that I really care what DPS does. I just was wondering what was up when I seen patrol cars marked Detroit Public Schools Police in Canton, Mi escorting a funeral procession. Not something you see every day out here.

**Islandman** · September-24-12, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

The Detroit Public Schools has a police department?

Not only do they have one, but from what I have seen, most of their cars are brand spanking new, featuring some brand new Chrysler models.

Edit: looks like others have noticed the new car smell of their cars.