Posted on 10/06/2012 9:42:58 AM PDT by BenLurkin
DETROIT (WWJ) – The men and women of the Detroit Police Department believe the city is too dangerous to enter, and they want citizens to know it.
Detroit Police Officer Association (DPOA) Attorney Donato Iorio said officers are holding the “Enter At Your Own Risk” rally at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in front of Comerica Park to remind the public that the officers are overworked, understaffed, and at times, fearful for their lives.
“Detroit is America’s most violent city, its homicide rate is the highest in the country and yet the Detroit Police Department is grossly understaffed,” Iorio told WWJ’s Kathryn Larson. “The DPOA believes that there is a war in Detroit, but there should be a war on crime, not a war on its officers.”
Iorio says the once 2,000 strong force is shrinking rapidly; since the start of summer, hundreds of officers have left the department.
“These are the men and women who we look to protect us… and police officers can’t protect you if they’re not there. Officers are leaving simply because they can’t afford to stay in Detroit and work 12 hour shifts for what they are getting paid… These police officers are beyond demoralized, these officers are leaving hand over fist because they can no longer afford to stay on the department and protect the public,” he said.
And that’s why Iorio cautions those who enter the city to be wary.
“The explosion in violent crime, the incredible spike in the number of homicides and for officers trying to work 12 hours in such deplorable, dangerous and war like conditions is simple untenable,” he said.
Iorio said the department today has less officers than ever, even though crime rates are through the roof.
“By denying police officers the appropriate manpower, there’s a manpower crisis right now, there’s 1,000 fewer police officers today than there was 10 years ago, yet the homicide rate is higher. There’s more crime now than before, so if anything you need more officers, not fewer officers,” he said.
LOL ... the Oakland A’s are showing up.
We can add Flint to that list. The City Police will not even go to certain areas of the city, and they “close” at 5:00pm on weekends!
I think the Mayor Bing just fired the Police Chief for banging his PIO.
“It is sad, it about changing a culture and people’s souls because they want to, but it may take a gargantuan volunteer effort from us in the burbs to do it”
I wish I could say that a gargantuan effort would be effective, but I don’t know how you can instill pride of ownership or self worth in a person that lives in the city from the burbs.
One of the biggest problems I see is that companies simply abandon assets like buildings and that leads to blight. I think companies should be forced to clean up after themselves like the rest us do.... Tear down their buildings and plant grass or something.
Comerica simply sounds like a bad idea - COmmunistaMERICA. The marketing geniuses were working over time that day.
Thanks. This has been true since 1968 at least.
Chicago and Philadelphia are competing for the Detroit gansta hate prize.
That is a brilliant idea..........
Actually I’d feel safer in Detroit where I can be armed.
May I suggest adding a blanket $100,000, tax free award for each Urban Feral legally killed during said Urban Feral’s attempted crime?
The historic term for such cash awards, IIRC, is “bounty”.
Whatever happened to Robocop?
That was always a joke to us living in or near Detroit. South of Detroit is Canada. There is no south Detroit.
I was born in a suburb just outside of Detroit in 1955. Fortunately, my mom had the sense to get her kids out of there.
They are when their EBT cards get filled.
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