Badge of the Detroit Police Department

Badge of the Detroit Police Department by City of Detroit – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Facts about Detroit Police Department


 

Detroit was founded in 1701 and prior to the establishment of the Detroit Police Department, various patrols and night watches policed the city. Following a riot in 1863, initiated by a black citizen who was being accused of rape which was later proven false, pressure grew for a functional police force. The Detroit Police Department was founded in 1865. It has nearly 2,500 officers, making it the largest law enforcement organization in Michigan.

At the end of the 20th century, Detroit had a reputation for being one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Read more on the Top 10 Facts about Detroit. In 2000, the Detroit Free Press recorded that Detroit led the entire nation in fatal shootings by police. The Detroit Police Department continues to work at establishing effective community relations and to hold the department to high standards of professionalism and integrity.

Here are the top 10 facts about Detroit Police Department.

1. The Detroit Police Department has over 2,500 officers

The Detroit Police Department is responsible for the city of Detroit, Michigan. The department has nearly 2,500 officers, making it the largest law enforcement organization in Michigan.

A breakdown of the demographics of the police officers are as follows; Male 75%, Female 25%, African-American 63%, White 33%, Hispanic, any race: 4% and Asian 0.4%. Since 1878, the Detroit Police Department has lost 228 officers in the line of duty.

2. The Detroit Police Department is a municipal police force

Detroit police inspecting equipment found in a clandestine underground brewery during the prohibition era

Detroit police inspecting equipment found in a clandestine underground brewery during the prohibition era – Wikimedia Commons

Municipal police, city police, or local police are law enforcement agencies that are under the control of the local government. This includes the municipal government, which is the smallest administrative subdivision. 

They receive funding from the city’s budget and may have fewer legal powers than the state-paid police. These police forces usually report to a mayor or a local police board. Historically, the role of the municipal police in local civic protection was carried out by municipal guards. Today, some formations of municipal police still carry the name of the city guard.

3. In the first year of the department’s operation, Officers carried personal handguns

During the first active year of the police force, Detroit officers made 3,056 arrests and corralled 200 loose animals and 1,700 stray geese. 

The officers of this era were not issued weapons, but most carried personal handguns.

4. Detroit Police Department was the first police department in the country to utilize radio dispatch in their patrol cars

Detroit Police Plymouth Fury

Detroit Police Plymouth Fury by Raymond Wambsgans – Wikimedia Commons

The Detroit Police Department embraced innovation and change in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1909, Detroit’s police department was the first in the country to use automobiles for patrol. In 1922, the department became the first in the nation to use radio dispatch technology.

A dispatcher is a communications worker who receives and transmits information to coordinate the operations of other personnel and vehicles carrying out a service. A number of organizations, including police and fire departments, use dispatchers to relay information, direct personnel, and coordinate their operations.

5. In 1893, the Detroit Police Department hired its first female officer

Marie Owen was the first female to be hired at the Detroit Police Department alongside the first black officer, L T Toliver. The Detroit Police Department established a Women’s Division in 1921 that was tasked with cases of child abuse, sexual assaults, juvenile delinquency, and checking establishments for illegal minors.

Female officers were not allowed to work on criminal cases unless accompanied by male officers until 1973, after a series of discrimination lawsuits prompted changes in department policy.

6. In 2000, Detroit had the highest rate of police-involved shootings in the United States

Plymouth Patrol Car, Detroit Police

Plymouth Patrol Car, Detroit Police by F. D. Richards – Wikimedia Commons

In 2000, the Detroit Free Press published a series of articles after a four-month investigation into fatal shootings by Detroit police officers. At the time, Detroit had the highest rate of police-involved shootings of any large city in the United States, surpassing New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. Read more on 5 Notorious Detroit Police Department Scandals

The city requested an investigation by the United States Department of Justice into the department’s handling of deadly force incidents. By 2001, the Justice Department’s investigation had uncovered issues with the department’s arrest and detention practices as well.

7. The Detroit Police Department was placed under federal court oversight in 2003

Between 2003 and 2014, the Detroit Police Department was placed under federal court oversight by the Justice Department as the result of allegations of the use of excessive force, illegal arrests and improper detention.

This process cost the city of Detroit more than $50 million. By 2014, the department’s use of force had been seriously reduced and the U.S. District Judge overseeing the case stated that the Detroit Police Department had met its obligations for reforms.

8. The Detroit Police Department converted a Casino building into its new Headquarters

Former Detroit Police Department headquarters

Former Detroit Police Department headquarters by Mikerussell – Wikimedia Commons

On June 11, 2010, it was reported that the City of Detroit would acquire the former MGM Grand Detroit temporary casino building on John C. Lodge Freeway for $6.23 million and convert it into a new police headquarters complex.

The building would also house a crime lab operated by the Michigan State Police. The renovated building also houses the Detroit Fire Department headquarters. The former casino building has 400,000 square feet of space.

9. In 2005, the Detroit Police department’s thirteen precincts were consolidated into six

This was seen as a cost-cutting measure when the department’s thirteen precincts were consolidated into six larger districts. The department restored a number of precincts in 2009 after citizens complained about the change.

In 2011, it was announced that the Detroit Police Department would be reverting to the original precinct structure, with officials citing gaps in services and concerns over the new command structure.

10. The Detroit Police Department has one of the largest percentages of Black officers

This is regarded as one of the largest percentages of Black officers of any major city police department, reflecting current overall city demographics. Lawsuits alleging discrimination stemming from the influence of affirmative action and allegations of race-based promotional bias for executive positions have surfaced repeatedly.

As of 2008, the majority of upper command members in the Detroit PD were Black. A breakdown of the demographics of the police officers are as follows; Male 75%, Female 25%, African-American 63%, White 33%, Hispanic, any race: 4% and Asian 0.4%. 

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.