David Malhalab, a retired Detroit Police sergeant, was on the force 23 years.
David Malhalab
By David Malhalab
Mayor Mike Duggan has twice, that I have seen, mislead people about crime in Detroit by implying that they are going to be safer because Detroit will hire 200-300 new police officers this year.
Making those low-paid, low-education hires will not make Detroit safer. The Detroit Police Department loses about 30 officers a month, give or take, to retirements, injuries and resignations. That means 300 'new' officers is a net-zero situation.
The city needs more officers to make Detroit safe! And it needs to raise hiring standards, pay and benefits to attract the quality of officers that will help reduce crime.
Also, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade implies that she can help solve the gun problem by dedicating two additional assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute gun violators under federal laws, which carry tougher penalties.
Wrong!
We need more officer and detectives to arrest more violators and do the necessary paperwork.
And while we're talking about department resources, I have to say that the gang squad is not an effective crime fighting unit.
As I have said in the past, every DPD officers should be a "gang intelligence officer."
Officers need a Gang Intelligence Unit to supply officers at each precinct with the information they need to stop gang violence.
Having a "gang squad" is not, and has not been, effective.
This is a public relations gambit to make the public feel safer, but it does not do the job.
