Detroit Mayor Dave Bing joined federal, state and local law enforcement to unveil the “Detroit One” crime-fighting initiative Thursday.
The idea underpinning the effort is that a large portion of Detroit’s violent crime is committed by a relatively small number of people.
Law enforcement agencies—including the Detroit Police, Michigan State Police, FBI and ATF--say they’ll regularly pool information to track down the most violent offenders. The Michigan State Police will boost its ranks in Detroit to more than two-dozen, with more troopers in the pipeline. And federal prosecutors will be assigned to police precincts to help with search warrants and other paperwork.
The idea is to decrease violent crime 25% this year, with a focus on gun-related crimes.
But Detroit One relies more on collaboration than it does on adding resources. It also relies heavily on community engagement and support.
Detroiter Doencella Jones suggested residents need to see some follow-through before they warm up to the effort.
“The only way they’re going to build the trust is [by] doing this, and being consistent, and standing on what they say they’re going to do,” Jones said. “Now, it’s about action.”
Jones said she’ll do what she can to support the initiative in her east side neighborhood, where crime is a serious problem. “I’m not afraid of my community, but I’m afraid for some of the people in my community,” she said. “A lot of people out there are just trying to survive.”
Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan says related actions launched in two precincts have already helped reduce violent crime there.
“This time last year, when you compare the two years, we’re 10% down in our criminal homicides,” Logan said. “Non-fatal shootings are down over 20%. So we know we’re on the right path.”
Detroit recorded 387 criminal homicides in 2012.
