Politics

Judge Ends Court Oversight of Detroit Police Department

August 25, 2014, 12:32 PM

Featured_craig2_12926
Chief James Craig

After 11 years, a federal judge on Monday ordered an end to the court-ordered oversight of the Detroit Police Department.

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn ordered to end the use of a court-appointed monitor. Under a transition, the government will still keep an eye on the department for 18 months.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig said afterwards that it’s a “great day” for the department, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Robert Allen of the Freep wrote:

The consent agreement was started in 2003 after the Justice Department said it found constitutional violations. Between 1995 and 2000, police killed nearly 50 people, including six people who were unarmed and shot in the back. Nineteen people died while in custody, according to the Associated Press.

Today, Melvin Butch Hollowell, Detroit’s corporation counsel, told Cohn the city has substantially improved accountability, with an “early warning system” that flags an officer who’s involved in a police chase or has a complaint filed, among other criteria.

“This is a different police department,” Hollowell said. “This police department has worked very hard to get where it is today.”

Not everyone applauded the ruling.

“They can smile now, but the reality is we’re going to be in the streets,” said Ron Scott with the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, according to the Freep. “We’re going to be organizing more vociferously.”

 


Read more:  Detroit Free Press


Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day