Detroit Mayor Announces Plan To Curb Violent Crime
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has announced a plan that calls for various law enforcement agencies and residents to work together to reduce homicides and other violent crime in the city.
The initiative called Detroit One was announced on Thursday.
"The value of teamwork has been clear to me throughout my professional career," Mayor Bing said. "Detroit One brings the principles of teamwork to law enforcement, as well as the community. I believe that by working together we can cause a significant drop in crime in our city."
Backers of Detroit One want local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to join forces with neighborhood organizations to improve public safety.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said the immediate goal of Detroit One is a reduction in gun-related violence. It's patterned after programs in other cities that have emphasized similar cooperation.
"We hope to reduce violent crime in Detroit by 25 percent in 2013," said McQuade, in a statement. "Public safety is essential to the quality of life we all expect and deserve in Detroit. Detroit One can reduce violent crime by utilizing strategies that have been successful in other parts of the country."
Bing's office says Washington, D.C., for example, was able to reduce the number of homicides from 479 in the 1990s to 88 in 2012.
Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan said, earlier this month, officers saturated two areas of the city, making 245 arrests -- and it's not strictly business.
"It's very personal for me because I also had a brother who was killed in the city of Detroit. I live in the city of Detroit; my family lives in the city of Detroit. We are invested in this city," Logan said.
(CLICK HERE to view a statistical breakdown of program results thus far, as released by the city).
As a part of Detroit One, Michigan State Police and ATF officers will conduct regular patrols in Detroit.
The number of killings in Detroit increased 12 percent last year.
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