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Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon says budget cuts to his department have been “unconscionable and unfortunate” and have compromised public safety.
"If your community is not safe then you’re not doing your job as government," Napoleon said.
In a taped appearance Monday on the Deadline Detroit TV’s “One Round With Darrell Dawsey,” Napoleon talked about public safety, his political future and the land giveaway for the Mike Ilitch development.
Addressing the budget cuts, he said:
“I’ve lost my Internet crimes unit that protects children on the Internet, which is important. I’ve lost my narcotics enforcement. which you know for communities, which were hurting -- the city of Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods, Inkster, Ecorse, River Rouge, cities where the police departments have been decimated because of budget cuts -- is really unfortunate.
“We also lost our morality unit that went out and did prostitution and illegal gambling enforcement which is a big issue in some of these neighborhoods, predominately in the urban environments.”
Napoleon said there’s not much he can do restore those units.
“There’s not much I can salvage,” he told Dawsey. “ Because the priority has to be now getting this budget in order and funding the jail and making sure I’m not chronically over budget. But something’s going to hurt and I think public safety is hurting because the commission and the county executive’s failure to make public safety a priority.”
Dawsey also asked Napoleon his thoughts about the city giving away land to Ilitch for his massive development. While campaigning for mayor, Napoleon was critical of downtown development taking priority over the neighborhoods.
“I have absolutely no problem with things that are going to help grow this community but until such time as the people who have lived here, the people who have suffered with high crime, the people who have suffered with poor city services, the people who have dealt with the inadequacies of this government, until they are made a priority, then we should really rethink some things that we are doing, especially if it’s something that‘s going to benefit someone other than the folks who are living in the neighborhoods within this community."
“I think it’s a great thing that we have this investment downtown. But the model that I advocated was the model that they used in Atlanta where if you’re going to come here, you’re going to get some money from us, and you’re going to be building something. then it needs to employ Detroiters, and we have to get some equity."
Dawsey asked Napoleon if he thought Mayor Mike Duggan was addressing some of the neighborhood issues, to which the sheriff said:
"It's way too early to tell becvause he’s really not in charge. Kevyin Orr is still in charge, make no mistake about it. The answer will come when Mike Duggan is really in charge."
Dawsey asked if Napoleon has interest in running this year for the Wayne County Executive job.
“I have had people ask me that question for a long time now. I have not made a decision in that area. I am honored that folks see me potentially in that capacity. I am listening to folks that are interested in having me run for that office. But I haven’t made a decision one way or another.”
