Detroit Police Look To Have Stronger Presence Within The Neighborhoods
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit City Council received a visit from Police Chief James Craig Tuesday. The top cop outlined his plan to break down individual police precincts into smaller neighborhoods - and putting a cop in charge of each of those areas.
Chief Craig told WWJ's Vickie Thomas that those cops will play a big part of community outreach.
"Those neighborhood police officers are empowered to drive solutions in partnership with the neighborhood," said Craig. "That's the essence of the program - driving solutions, working hand-in-hand with the community, be it a clergy leader (or) business owner."
He says the precincts are divided into areas, with each precinct having four or five areas and within each of those areas a police officer will act as a 'mini police chief.'
The Neighborhood Police officer program will have 38 men and women keeping a close eye on the streets.
The centers will be open 24 hours a day, as Chief Craig said he looks to eliminate "the madness of this thing they had going on when I arrived her called virtual precincts."
The officers selected will get a pay upgrade and wear a select patch identifying themselves as a part of the program.