Detroit police special units could be disbanded [[?)

[Zacha341]

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]

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.

[Detroitnerd]

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.

[bailey]

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

Well, what would have happened had they not been deployed? the riots were quelled 48 hours after their arrival.

[Detroitnerd]

Well, what would have happened had they not been deployed? the riots were quelled 48 hours after their arrival.

A lot of innocent people wouldn't have died. The east side was guarded by the Army, which had been in worse situations. The west side was "guarded" by the MNG, who were a bunch of jumpy country boys who kept hearing "snipers" -- which were actually other MNG troops firing on "snipers" -- and shooting at innocent Detroiters. Clifton Pryor was trying to keep sparks from a neighboring fire off his building and was shot as a "sniper." Four-year-old Tanya Blanding was shot from a National Guard tank that was, again, responding to "sniper fire." More of this "return fire" killed Albert Robinson, who was a former member of the National Guard himself! Or George Tolbert, who was just walking by a checkpoint and was hit with a bullet that killed him, hitting his friend too. Another National Guardsman took a security guard to be a looter and shot him dead too.

Bear in mind, although many of these victims were unarmed and committed no crime, no one was held criminally responsible for many of their deaths, and even in obvious cases where it was murder and the killers were lying, most of those who went to trail were ultimately exonerated.

Nice pat little stories about "quelling the riot in 48 hours" don't show the whole story, do they? I suggest you read up on 1967, what happened with the National Guard on the west side, and perhaps read John Hersey's "The Algiers Motel Incident."

Because if we understand our past, we understand why it's a piss-poor idea to call the Michigan National Guard into Detroit for any reason.

[bailey]

A lot of innocent people wouldn't have died. The east side was guarded by the Army, which had been in worse situations. The west side was "guarded" by the MNG, who were a bunch of jumpy country boys who kept hearing "snipers" -- which were actually other MNG troops firing on "snipers" -- and shooting at innocent Detroiters. Clifton Pryor was trying to keep sparks from a neighboring fire off his building and was shot as a "sniper." Four-year-old Tanya Blanding was shot from a National Guard tank that was, again, responding to "sniper fire." More of this "return fire" killed Albert Robinson, who was a former member of the National Guard himself! Or George Tolbert, who was just walking by a checkpoint and was hit with a bullet that killed him, hitting his friend too. Another National Guardsman took a security guard to be a looter and shot him dead too.

Bear in mind, although many of these victims were unarmed and committed no crime, no one was held criminally responsible for many of their deaths, and even in obvious cases where it was murder and the killers were lying, most of those who went to trail were ultimately exonerated.

Nice pat little stories about "quelling the riot in 48 hours" don't show the whole story, do they? I suggest you read up on 1967, what happened with the National Guard on the west side, and perhaps read John Hersey's "The Algiers Motel Incident."

Because if we understand our past, we understand why it's a piss-poor idea to call the Michigan National Guard into Detroit for any reason.

I guess someones sarcasm detector isn't functioning.

[Meddle]

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

You don't know much about the makeup of the Guard today, do you? Most of them are probably from Detroit and surrounding suburbs now anyways, or at least the MP Battalions that would most likely be activated.

[Detroitnerd]

You don't know much about the makeup of the Guard today, do you? Most of them are probably from Detroit and surrounding suburbs now anyways, or at least the MP Battalions that would most likely be activated.

I do know this: Those who don't study the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them.

[Honky Tonk]

I do know this: Those who don't study the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them.

Consequently, those who continue living in the past, never move forward into the future.

[aj3647]

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

Here's what they are doing in Mexico to defend their communities against drug violence in the absence of any competent law enforcement presence.

Mexico Self-Defense Squads Battle Violence Where Authorities Fail:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2519837.html

Now he has joined hundreds of other men in the southern Mexico state of Guerrero who have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings that local police are unable, or unwilling, to stop.
Vigilantes patrol a dozen or more towns in rural Mexico, the unauthorized but often tolerated edge of a growing movement toward armed citizen self-defense squads across the country.

The similarities are shocking. Rampant crime and murder, criminals have free reign, the police are either unwilling or unable to stop them, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[Detroitnerd]

The similarities are shocking. Rampant crime and murder, criminals have free reign, the police are either unwilling or unable to stop them, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I completely agree. Legalize drugs already, and end the stupid drug war instead of ramping it up. We already learned that lesson in 1933.

[DetroitPlanner]

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]

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

[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.

[corktownyuppie]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Meddle]

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.

[Richard]

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]

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.

[Meddle]

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.

[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!

[jackie5275]

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.