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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3538
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 11:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"He just admitted that there are racial preferences in hiring"

Not really. He didn't say he wouldn't hire non-blacks or that Detroit blacks would have preference over non-black Detroiters. There's nothing to keep non-blacks from moving into the city and getting hired.
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Lefty2
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Username: Lefty2

Post Number: 1221
Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 11:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Of course you should hire cops who enforce the police powers of government to represent the populace, no question. But commenting that blacks are preferred, as he appoints the chief, he defacto says hire blacks over whites. I still don't have too much a problem with that.
But shouldn't it be more important to hire the best people possible to do a good job so the residents benefit overall?
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Detroitplanner
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Username: Detroitplanner

Post Number: 1557
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'd want a police force that has a vested interest in the City. Too many folks fled several years back when the residency requirements were relaxed by the state. What we have now are little more than mercenaries joining the force and waiting until better jobs open elsewhere.
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Goose
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Username: Goose

Post Number: 60
Registered: 02-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:55 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

so detroit is a "black city"??? so how long has it been a "black city"??? not sure if equating the "success" or lack there-of within the city of detroit with pride in being black makes that much sense.... kinda like cheering for less than mediocrity
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3541
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 1:06 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"not sure if equating the "success" or lack there-of within the city of detroit with pride in being black makes that much sense"

not sure anyone has done that

"so detroit is a "black city"??? so how long has it been a "black city"???"

Detroit has a population that is largely comprised of blacks (almost 80%). Is that what you're classifying as a "black city" or are you using other criteria?
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Harpernottingham
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Username: Harpernottingham

Post Number: 361
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 2:34 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is anyone else sick of this black vs. white shit?

Most people would describe me as moderate to liberal (full disclosure: a Syrian/Welsh/Irish/German moderate to liberal guy), but for crissakes, Kwame ... would you give it a rest, man?

Imagine if the shoe were on the other foot:
"Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey today told City Council he'd like to see more qualified white applicants to the Ferndale police department."

I'm afraid that real racism is too often overlooked or brushed aside because of the "boy who cried wolf" types who shout ever so loudly about racism where it simply isn't present.

These are often the same types who try to deflect any legitimate criticisms of themselves when it comes to "reverse" discrimination.

Need I remind Kwame and his ilk about Martin Luther King's desire to see people judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character?

Kwame's a real COLORFUL (sorry -- no pun intended) CHARACTER, alright.

And I can't wait to hear what the JUDGES in Lansing have to say about him.
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Hudkina
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Username: Hudkina

Post Number: 125
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 3:16 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

LOL. Why are whites so sensitive about potential black racial discrimination? It's silly because whites still have every bit of power in the country. It seems like you have to be the one in power to truly discriminate...

Also, why are whites bitching about the black mayor of the city they abandoned decades ago wanting to hire black officers to enforce the laws in a city that is well over 80% black. (over 90% black if you exclude Southwest Detroit.) Maybe if you had stuck around instead of high-tailing it to the suburbs your opinion would matter...

And yes, it would be racist if a white mayor said he preferred white officers in his white suburb. For one, the police force is probably already mostly white. It doesn't need to be said. Now if for some reason the police force was mostly black, then maybe it would make sense...

But that's just the way it is. Accept it. It's not that big of a deal who is policing Detroit as long as they do their job. If Kilpatrick wants the police force to better represent the population that it is policing, then that's fine.

Stop acting like you're being discriminated against every time a black person says anything that would otherwise be considered racist. You're not!
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Sciencefair
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Username: Sciencefair

Post Number: 61
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 9:56 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think we're missing the point here...500 new police officers in Detroit.

I've read countless posts about people worried about crime, maybe this is the first step towards making a difference. He made this announcement initially a couple months ago, and now he's trying to make it happen.
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Pam
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Username: Pam

Post Number: 3550
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:10 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

499, Supersport already answered the call didn't he?
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Johnlodge
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Username: Johnlodge

Post Number: 5237
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:23 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

Also, why are whites bitching about the black mayor of the city they abandoned decades ago wanting to hire black officers to enforce the laws in a city that is well over 80% black. (over 90% black if you exclude Southwest Detroit.) Maybe if you had stuck around instead of high-tailing it to the suburbs your opinion would matter...



Because that's not how the damn world works. By that logic, every minority in any given population should not have a say, and their rights don't matter. Is that what you want? Well, 80% isn't enough to discount the rights of the other 20%, regardless of which foot the shoe is on. If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

These are the attitudes that perpetuate the hate and divisions. We all need each other in SE Michigan, working together. Otherwise we're lobsters in a bucket.
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D_mcc
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Username: D_mcc

Post Number: 268
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:32 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not about race...its about class...and racism is racism no matter how you spin it. Kwame is just as racist as any white person who say they hate black people...
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Iheartthed
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Username: Iheartthed

Post Number: 2725
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:34 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

By that logic, every minority in any given population should not have a say, and their rights don't matter. Is that what you want? Well, 80% isn't enough to discount the rights of the other 20%, regardless of which foot the shoe is on.



Do you really think he's proposing that the hiring be focused on black candidates or city residents to thumb his nose at white suburbanites?
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Johnlodge
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Username: Johnlodge

Post Number: 5238
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:39 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No, I think Hudinka's comments were off base and ill-informed. That's what I was responding to. "Why would whites care about a city they abandoned...". Not all "whites" did. They may be a minority, but that doesn't mean there's no right to "bitch". Especially if you are a city resident, and then simply on principle if you are not.

(Message edited by johnlodge on February 21, 2008)
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Iheartthed
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Username: Iheartthed

Post Number: 2726
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:41 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

No, I think Hudinka's comments were off base and ill-informed. That's what I was responding to. "Why would whites care about a city they abandoned...". Not all "whites" did. They may be a minority, but that doesn't mean there's no right to "bitch".



Okay, thanks for the clarification.
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 324
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:06 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

intended discriminatory hiring practices aside...

no one seems to be commenting on the fact that a city of 900k with double digit unemployment can't scrape up 500 able bodied people a) care enough about the city to be a cop and b) can stay off the pot long enough to pass a piss test?

yes, 28k is a low salary but it's not like there wont be raises and fringe benefits. Plus, median income in Detroit is only 30-35k.

At least KK is noting the fact Detroit can't find the bodies that meet the minimum requirements and not advocating doing away with the drug testing.
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Chuckjav
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Username: Chuckjav

Post Number: 386
Registered: 09-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:14 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

All the racial bullshit aside - excuse me - all the violating of Constitutional Rights aside...

There is no-way an entry level Law Enforcement Officer for the City of Detroit gets paid $28K as an annual salary....no-way.

That is a ridiculously low starting salary for such a demanding job....it is an insult to the profession.
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Treelock
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Username: Treelock

Post Number: 280
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:35 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How 'bout those late fiscal audits costing the city $26 million in revenue sharing from the state. Way to go city government!
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Cdwaters
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Username: Cdwaters

Post Number: 24
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:35 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If I remember correctly, when they had the big hire when they first announced the Casinos, the starting salary was in the low to mid 20's for the first year, 30's for the next year and by year three it was over 40. I was told by some police in other cities that Detroit did this because since they had their own police academy people were applying to be cops in Detroit so they didn't have to pay their own way through the academy, then after a year on the force they would high tail it to another city. The dramatic increase after the first couple years ensured people who planned on staying applied.
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 326
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

28k + benefits for a 18 year old with a H.S./GED is ridiculous? It's commiserate with a junior enlisted man in the military. Relatively equivalent profession, same basic skill set, same risks, right?

Is being a cop an easy job? no, but what starting salary expectations should a rookie beat cop expect? 80k?

Salary/Benefits


Competitive Medical, dental and optical plans College tuition reimbursement
Twenty (20) days vacation per year
Eight (8) paid holidays each year
Twelve (12) sick days per year
Pension plan / Deferred compensation plan
Department issued uniforms and equipment
Longevity pay / Off-duty court appearances
Shift differential pay (afternoon/midnight shifts)
Uniform cleaning allowance


Basic Requirements


1. At least 18 Years Old, United States Citizen.
2. Applicant's vision must be 20/20, or corrected to 20/20, in each eye. Depth and color perception must be normal.
3. High School Graduate or G.E.D.
4. Applicant must possess a valid driver's license (at time of application).
5. No Felony Conviction. Misdemeanor arrest are subject to review on an individual basis.
6. Applicant must be capable of performing the essential functions of a police officer with or without accommodation as determined by the hiring criteria.
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Figebornu
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Username: Figebornu

Post Number: 64
Registered: 01-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 11:58 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why is this man still in office? And why is he still talking "business as usual?" Did I miss something?
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 327
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

because he knows there will be no repercussions for his conduct. Didn't you see where he said he was on mission from god? Let's focus on the real issues not a smear campaign by the media and the suburbs.

(Message edited by higgs1634 on February 21, 2008)
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Motown
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Username: Motown

Post Number: 34
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If I'm not mistaken, the starting salary should've been bumped up to 30 or 31k at the start of the calendar year. Once you graduate the academy you receive another 1000-1500 dollar raise.

Unfortunately, the department is hemorrhaging officers and the magical 500 number will really only fill vacancies created within the past couple years, barely.

In the latter half of 2006, they made the same proclamation of wanting to hire 500 officers, take back the streets, yada yada, since then they've really only hired 60-80 (semi-counting those SPO's who were laid off while in the academy and were called back).

They've only graduated one academy class of roughly 28 people since the last/previous classes in early 2005.

I wish people really understood how understaffed the department currently is.

(Message edited by Motown on February 21, 2008)
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Providence
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Username: Providence

Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, there’s certainly a lot of emotions flying around about this. But I think what’s more important is the legality of what he is suggesting.

It’s fine if a community group wants to encourage blacks to apply for positions in the police department to better represent themselves. But it is another story when the city government says it should be targeting a certain race. Now all we need is for a white person to apply for the job, not get it, and sue the city for racial discrimination. Public comments like these coming from city leaders would certainly benefit the prosecution.

It’s just not a very smart comment for a government official to make – even if it does play to his voting base. And even though the mayor’s comments do not directly say that they should give preference to black candidates, singling out and identifying them as “the right kind of cadet” is a slippery slope.

It also discourages qualified individuals of other races from applying. And if you are short on cops, you should be looking for the best qualified individuals for the job, regardless of race.

There is also the ill feelings it creates in the larger community - that has been discussed.

I agree that having too many white officers in a black neighborhood could cause issues (even if for the wrong reasons). But changing that should largely be a community effort; both in changing any unwarranted negative perceptions of white cops, as well as preparing more members of the neighborhood to aspire to positions in the police force.

The reasons we have laws on this sort of thing is to protect individuals in situations where overrepresentation has the potential to corrupt one’s rights. And no, just because blacks are the majority here does not make it alright, even given the context of our nation’s civil rights and diversity issues. I think our leaders should be constantly evaluating what their comments will sound like when viewed historically, say 100 years from now. In situations like this, will they be viewed progressing civil rights, or hindering it? When we look at what leaders were saying on race 100 years ago from now, what are our thoughts? Remember, many of those things that disgust us now, where relatively socially acceptable back then.
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Diehard
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Username: Diehard

Post Number: 322
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 1:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

When I heard that this morning, I immediately thought, it's crazy on its face but it makes sense.
What happens when a white cop roughs up a black criminal in Detroit? Al Sharpton shows up and blusters about it, the family files a million-dollar lawsuit, the city loses. If a black cop roughs up a black criminal you don't hear a peep about it, because it doesn't feed into the "whitey's out to get us" persecution complex. I would hate to see another Malice Green-style sh*tstorm again.
I long for the day when we don't even have to think about this stuff.
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Iheartthed
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Username: Iheartthed

Post Number: 2727
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 2:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

What happens when a white cop roughs up a black criminal in Detroit? Al Sharpton shows up and blusters about it, the family files a million-dollar lawsuit, the city loses. If a black cop roughs up a black criminal you don't hear a peep about it, because it doesn't feed into the "whitey's out to get us" persecution complex. I would hate to see another Malice Green-style sh*tstorm again.



I mean... yeah, that's part of it. I kinda thought that people could at least get this much out of it without having the point spoon fed to them. I guess that's the error of my assumption...
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 329
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Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 2:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok, so we want a majority black police force in a majority black city so that when a black cop beats a suspect to death..there won't be protests?
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D_mcc
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Username: D_mcc

Post Number: 271
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 2:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Its all about classism...Look in africa where Blacks rule countries...does it have to do with race there? Hell no...its about money, you either have it...or you don't.

Prime example...the Irish...the Irish were treated worse than blacks when they first started arriving in the 1840s and 50s...

Irish Need Not Apply...all sorts of things...

Color of the skin is less important than content of the wallet...
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Rob_in_warren
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Username: Rob_in_warren

Post Number: 76
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 3:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

500 cops is the big deal. More cops and more shifts is a tremendous idea. That would be 3 officers for every square mile of city land!! And hiring "Detroiters" first is a smart move. People who have a vested interest in the city will serve the city better.

But the city (and when the mayor does anything it's on the city's behalf) shouldn't limit the competition to particular segments of the regional population. He's trying to get 500 good candidates to work for $28k in a notoriously tough town... GLWT.

Why didn't he welcome all people to the table?

His comments are racially (and regionally) divisive. Telling the region that 'other than black people need not apply' isn't exactly welcoming all of the support the entire region can give the city. The city (and suburbs) need to reject any language like this from our leadership.
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3547
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 3:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Ok, so we want a majority black police force in a majority black city so that when a black cop beats a suspect to death..there won't be protests?"

There might be protests but they'll be harder to base on racial arguments and fan all the flames that subject generates. Kinda like KK trying to play the race card with the jury that found against him and for the cops, except the cops were also black, so that argument won't fly.
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Crumbled_pavement
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Username: Crumbled_pavement

Post Number: 196
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 3:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here's a wild idea, how about cops that serve and protect and don't beat people up. Seems like that would save millions of dollars and we wouldn't have to worry about what color the cop was. Detroit is about 80% black so the police force should reflect that. I couldn't imagine a city like Livonia that has less than 5% black population to be running around with 65% black cops from EEV, Detroit. Some things just make sense...
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3548
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Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 3:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"how about cops that serve and protect and don't beat people up"

Nice idea, but do you think in today's society, where everything seems to be turning into dog-eat-dog, that could ever happen?
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Mortgageking
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Username: Mortgageking

Post Number: 39
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 4:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My brother is interested in becoming a Detroit cop. Anyone know the proper channels for filling out an application? I've searched high and low and cannot find out how he should apply.
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Ltorivia485
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Username: Ltorivia485

Post Number: 2967
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 4:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The city needs to reopen or build new police precincts. The consolidation of police precincts throughout the city was a very bad decision.
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Johnlodge
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Username: Johnlodge

Post Number: 5254
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 4:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mortgageking:

Detroit Police Department
Personnel/Recruiting Section
14655 Dexter Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48238
(313) 596-2660

When searching high and low, did you try calling them?
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Mortgageking
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Username: Mortgageking

Post Number: 40
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 4:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was hoping for something online. I guess I could still write a letter or place a telephone call.
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3551
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 4:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No, they don't need more precincts. That just means more administrative staff and more money spent on unnecessary overhead. What they need is feet on the street - bike patrols, car patrols, beat cops - visibility and rapport building with the community, and sufficient other squads and support (including in the judicial system, which they can't control) to take on the toughest, deeply entrenched problems that plague the city and take longer to root out.
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7051
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Username: 7051

Post Number: 69
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 6:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Detroit is down to around 3000 officers, quite a bit less than the 4,900 in 2000. And much less than the 6500 in the early-mid seventies.
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Digitalvision
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Username: Digitalvision

Post Number: 577
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Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 6:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ouch. Well that explains just about everything, 7051.
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Terryh
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Username: Terryh

Post Number: 692
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Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 6:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Who is going to monitor those 500 new police officers? There are already issues with police abuse and corruption.There is a serious lack of trust between the police and civilians in many areas of the city.
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 3554
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 7:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"There is a serious lack of trust between the police and civilians in many areas of the city."

There needs to be sensitivity to this as a potential issue, but the reality is that the no snitch rule needs to be addressed. Some of what could be interpreted as distrust of the police might be a very real fear of retaliation, too.

Whichever is the case a start has to be made somewhere in order for change to occur. In problem neighborhoods that aren't cooperative perhaps a lot more undercover work needs to be done at length so that the real top dogs can be identified and taken down, whether they're civilians or authorities. The sources of fear need to be eliminated.
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Ravine
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Username: Ravine

Post Number: 1965
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 8:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The black/white thing is so tiresome. From Kilpatrick, from this forum, from everybody.
I don't even care what Kilpatrick said, or what he meant. He has clearly shown himself to be a two-bit liar, and I do not, and will never, believe a word the sorry-ass says about anything.
At this point, my only reaction to him is, "Why are you still here?"
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Paulmcall
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Username: Paulmcall

Post Number: 624
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 1:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I never heard of a problem getting enough cops if they had the money. I always hear about them laying off cops.
When did the money become available?
Problem with getting enough blacks on the force are the requirements about not having a record. Plus I think you have to be able to read and write. Uh oh.
I have no problem having 500 more blacks on the force. Just make sure the are qualified. Pretty soon they will lower their standards like the military if you let them.
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Buyamerican
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Username: Buyamerican

Post Number: 428
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Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 3:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There won't be 500 new policemen recruited or hired by the City of Detroit anytime in the near future. Classes have been started and cancelled so many times it isn't even funny. Where, all of a sudden, is this money coming from? KK is campaigning for re-election next year already, can't you people see that? He's trying to divert all the negative attention on himself to something more positive, even though he can't possibly carry through with this plan. It is a veiled attempt for him to get some respectability and that's hilarious.

Also, they can't find 500 people from the City of Detroit who don't have felony convictions to hire. The call has to go out to other communities if he wants qualified candidates for the job.

"Imagine if the shoe were on the other foot:
"Ferndale Mayor Craig Covey today told City Council he'd like to see more qualified white applicants to the Ferndale police department."

If that happened, everyone from Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton would be on Ferndale's doorstep crying racism. Whites would automatically be labeled as bigots, racists, skin heads, nazi's or whatever.
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Focusonthed
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Username: Focusonthed

Post Number: 1704
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 3:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paulmcall, are you going on record saying that blacks tend to be illiterate criminals? Just checking.
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Cdwaters
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Username: Cdwaters

Post Number: 28
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 4:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, the Mayor went on record saying that black Detroiters are out of shape potheads.
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Rax
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Username: Rax

Post Number: 146
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Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 4:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That must suck to be a white guy going through the academy, knowing that your Mayor really would rather not have you on the force.
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Jt1
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Username: Jt1

Post Number: 11346
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 4:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does that go fro white guys that live in the city? It kind of sucks being a resident talking to cops on occasion that completely despise the city and say things like "I'm not gonna put my neck out to do anything I don't have to do" or "There is the law and there is Detroit law so I only respond to the things I have to"

Direct quotes from 2 cops I know that live outside the city.
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Pgn421
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Username: Pgn421

Post Number: 446
Registered: 02-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 4:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cant pass drug test
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Lefty2
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Username: Lefty2

Post Number: 1262
Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 6:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There is an affliction in many large cities,
it's called AWW syndrome.
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Mayor_sekou
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Username: Mayor_sekou

Post Number: 1912
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 7:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think the Mayor is bullshitting. There are 900,000 people in this city and you mean to tell me that out of all of those you cant find 500 people who can pass a drug test to be a cop. The jobs don't exists thats why people aren't applying for them. If several thousand people will line up for a Walmart job paying $10/hr, you don't think if these jobs were for real that these same people wouldn't line up for a full time job with benefits as a cop?
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Ravine
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Username: Ravine

Post Number: 1986
Registered: 01-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 8:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, see, that's one of the pervasive problems that extends itself from the act of lying while under oath. After that, one has to be ready & able to prove everything one says, because one's word has no value whatsoever. It is one thing to suspect that all politicians are liars; it's another to be absolutely sure that the Mayor of your city is a liar.
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Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1155
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 10:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is anyone else sick of this black vs. white shit?

:: raises hand ::

I think the Mayor is bullshitting. There are 900,000 people in this city and you mean to tell me that out of all of those you cant find 500 people who can pass a drug test to be a cop.

Agreed. I think the problem isn't the drug test, it's the lack of money. Now, if he hadn't cost the city $9 million allegedly covering up an affair, that wouldn't be the issue. He probably didn't want to make money an issue. And, as Sekou says, Wal-Mart has lots of applicants. Well, Wal-Mart has a drug screening process, too. At least, it did when I worked for it back in 1997.
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Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1156
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 10:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Check that, money WOULD still be an issue, but it would be $9-million less of an issue.
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Cmubryan
Member
Username: Cmubryan

Post Number: 535
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 10:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Like many of you, I was very frustrated with the mayor's racially based statement. So much that I e-mailed James Canning, his deputy press secretary. James took the time to call me back tonight and we had a lengthy conversation about his statement. He assured me that by no means is the mayor trying to count out any white or non-black applicants but that he is looking for strong young black candidates because it is becoming a rarity. They have recently had challenges with getting large numbers of black and for that matter hispanic applicants. He claimed that in the last police academy class 20 out of the 25 new cadets were white. Not that this is bad but they want to continue making sure that the force is racially diverse. He admitted that the way the mayor presented his idea probably wasn't the best. He said they want to do whatever they can to have everyone come and live in the city: White, Black, whatever.

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