Crime in Detroit

In June 1971, the largest mass murder in Detroit's history occurred, known as the Hazelwood massacre.{{cite news |title=Revenge See in 7 Killings: Were Seven Shot To Silence Them? |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |author=John Griffith |date=June 16, 1971 |pages=3A, 16A |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106219206/revenge-see-in-7-killings-were-seven/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724173957/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106219206/revenge-see-in-7-killings-were-seven/ |url-status=live }} Eight African-Americans were shot and killed in a house in the Virginia Park Historic District.

The number of Detroit homicides peaked in 1974 at 714 and again in 1991 with 615. At the end of 2010, the homicide count fell to 308 for the year with an estimated population of just over 700,000, the lowest count and rate since 1967.{{cite news |url=http://detnews.com/article/20110104/METRO01/101040370/1409/rss36 |title=Murders fell 15% in Detroit last year |first=George |last=Hunter |publisher=The Detroit News |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=2015-07-11 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20110104/NEWS01/101040346/1001/news |title=Detroit homicides fall to lowest level since 1967 |author=Suzette Hackney|author2=Gina Damron|author3=Kristi Tanner-White|name-list-style=amp|date=January 4, 2011|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2015-07-11}}

In 2006, the Detroit Police Department's Crime Analysis Unit reported that crimes dropped by 24 percent since the introduction of casino gaming to Detroit, Michigan.{{Cite book|author=Wilks, Jeff|author2=Donna Pendergast|author3=Peter Leggat|name-list-style=amp |title=Tourism in Turbulent Times: Toward Safe Experiences for Visitors|year=2006|publisher=Elsevier |isbn=0080446663}}, p. 103.

In a 2007 analysis, Detroit officials noted that about 65 to 70 percent of homicides in the city were confined to a narcotics catalyst.{{cite web |last=Shelton |first=Steve Malik |date=January 30, 2008 |title=Top cop urges vigilance against crime |publisher=Michigan Chronicle |access-date=March 17, 2008 |url=http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2322/1/Top-cop-urges-vigilance-against-crime/Page1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802131457/http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2322/1/Top-cop-urges-vigilance-against-crime/Page1.html |archive-date=August 2, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} In 2013, Detroit's number of criminal homicides was 333, a reduction of 14% compared to 2012. However, taken in context by population, Detroit remains a city with one of the highest homicide rates per capita in the United States.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/detroit-murder-rate_n_4531960.html|title=Detroit Crime Dropped In 2013, But City Had Same Number Of Murders As New York|author=Kate Abbey-Lambertz|date=January 3, 2014|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2015-07-11|archive-date=May 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213306/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/detroit-murder-rate_n_4531960.html|url-status=live}}

In April 2008, Detroit unveiled a $300-million stimulus plan to create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods, financed by city bonds and paid for by earmarking about 15% of the wagering tax.{{cite web|title=Next Detroit|publisher=City of Detroit|url=http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/NextDetroit/tabid/1521/Default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502164357/http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/NextDetroit/tabid/1521/Default.aspx|archive-date=May 2, 2008}} Detroit's plans for revitalization include 7-Mile/Livernois, Brightmoor, East English Village, Grand River/Greenfield, North-End, and Osborn.{{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703130354 |title=Detroit can't afford to lose this family |work=Detroit Free Press |access-date=2015-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919150906/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703130354 |archive-date=September 19, 2012 }} Private organizations have pledged substantial funding to neighborhood revitalization efforts.{{cite web|url=http://www.degc.org/neighborhood-groups.aspx |access-date=January 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217010346/http://www.degc.org/neighborhood-groups.aspx|archive-date=December 17, 2008|title=Community Development|website=DEGC}}{{cite web|url-status=dead|url=http://www.cfsem.org/grants/special_grants/PDFs/CF_DetroitNeighborhoodsSingle.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206145552/http://www.cfsem.org/grants/special_grants/PDFs/CF_DetroitNeighborhoodsSingle.pdf|archive-date=February 6, 2009|title=Detroit Neighborhood Fund|date=March 2007}} One of the issues that is not as extreme as murders and crime, but shows system-wide decline of basic city services is a large number of stray dogs roaming the streets. Fifty-nine Detroit postal workers were attacked by stray dogs in 2010, according to a Detroit postmaster.{{cite web |last=Binelli |first=Mark |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/city-of-strays-detroits-epidemic-of-50-000-wild-dogs-20120320#ixzz20r2DtdsX |title=City of Strays: Detroit's Epidemic of 50,000 Abandoned Dogs |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2012-03-20 |access-date=2015-07-11 |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918122852/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/city-of-strays-detroits-epidemic-of-50-000-wild-dogs-20120320#ixzz20r2DtdsX |url-status=live }}

Detroit had faced many cases of arson each year on Devil's Night, the evening before Halloween. In the 1980s a number of residents noted that they had turned to arson of abandoned homes to keep drug dealers from using the empty buildings. The majority of citizen arsonists were never prosecuted or charged. The Angel's Night campaign, launched in the late 1990s, draws many volunteers to patrol the streets during Halloween week. The effort reduced arson: there were 810 fires set in 1984, this was reduced to 142 in 1996.{{cite web |url=https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0047208/m0047208.asp |title=Urban Community Intervention to Prevent Halloween Arson -- Detroit, Michigan, 1985-1996 (April 11, 1997) |website=CDC Wonder |access-date=2020-03-11 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308073456/https://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0047208/m0047208.asp |url-status=live }} In recent years, fires on this three-night period have dropped even further. In 2009, the Detroit Fire Department reported 119 fires over this period, of which 91 were classified as suspected arsons.{{cite web|title=Detroit fires drop over 3-day Halloween period|date=November 3, 2009|work=Daily Tribune|url-status=dead|url=http://dailytribune.com/articles/2009/11/03/news/doc4aef43ca44335834433376.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306075036/http://dailytribune.com/articles/2009/11/03/news/doc4aef43ca44335834433376.txt|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}

"Renaissance" has been Detroit's phrase for development since the 1970s. During the administration of Dennis Archer, who succeeded Coleman Young in 1994, Detroit saw middle-class residents moving into the city, and growth in residential and commercial development, despite overall population decline. Detroit has improved in the early 21st century, making use of increased funding from the state to demolish condemned buildings.{{cite web |first=Cheryl |last=Corley |date=January 3, 2005 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4254620 |title=Detroit Struggles to Overcome Urban Blight |publisher=NPR Morning Edition. |access-date=February 13, 2008 |archive-date=February 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218023853/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4254620 |url-status=live }}

In 2012, the murder count had rebounded to 411, with 386 considered criminal homicides.{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/detroit-murders-2012-bing_n_2402372.html | work=Huffington Post | first=David | last=Sands | title=Bing, Detroit Police Officials Reveal 2012 Homicide Statistics | date=January 3, 2013 | access-date=2015-07-11 | archive-date=January 13, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113123326/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/detroit-murders-2012-bing_n_2402372.html | url-status=live }}

According to arrest records, as of 2015 many of the customers of illegal drugs and sex in Detroit originate from the suburbs.Gross, Allie. "[http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2015/10/06/whos-buying-sex-and-drugs-in-detroit-suburbanites Who's buying sex and drugs in Detroit? Suburbanites ]" ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014222345/http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2015/10/06/whos-buying-sex-and-drugs-in-detroit-suburbanites |date=2015-10-14 }}). Metro Times. Tuesday October 6, 2015. Retrieved on October 17, 2015. George Hunter of The Detroit News wrote that "Detroit's underground economy mirrors the legitimate one: Both rely heavily on suburban investment."Hunter, George. "[http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/10/05/sex-drug-stings-nab-suburbs-city/73428090/ Sex, drug stings nab more from suburbs than city]" ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014211418/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/10/05/sex-drug-stings-nab-suburbs-city/73428090/ |date=2015-10-14 }}). The Detroit News. October 5, 2015. Retrieved on October 7, 2015. The largest number of suburbanites committing illegal acts go to areas of Detroit bordering suburbs.

As of 2015, there is an element in Detroit culture against "snitching" or reporting criminal activity.Dickson, James David. "[http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/09/23/effort-combats-detroit-anti-snitch-culture/72688868/ Effort combats Detroit's anti-snitch culture]" ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013165018/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/09/23/effort-combats-detroit-anti-snitch-culture/72688868/ |date=2015-10-13 }}). The Detroit News. September 23, 2015. Retrieved on October 20, 2015.

On August 29, 2022, a 19-year-old male was suspected of opening fire on random pedestrians in Detroit, killing three people and wounding a fourth; a dog was also killed. He was arrested later in the day, and formally charged with murder and attempted murder.

{{See also|Government of Detroit|Detroit Police Department}}

Image:DetroitPoliceHQ1300Beaubein.jpg

In 2000, the city requested an investigation by the United States Justice Department into the Detroit Police Department which was concluded in 2003, following allegations regarding its use of force and civil rights violations.{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitmi.gov/police/dept/crib/crib.htm |title=Quarterly Status Report to the Independent Federal Monitor |publisher=Detroit Police Department |access-date=April 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404050931/http://www.detroitmi.gov/police/dept/crib/crib.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2007 |df=mdy-all }} From 2005 to 2006, the city proceeded with a large scale reorganization of the Detroit Police Department, reducing the number of precincts from twelve to six districts. The stated purpose of this reorganization was to improve services.{{cite news |url=http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0508/30/A01-297330.htm |title=Detroit to trim 150 cops, precincts |date=30 August 2005 |publisher=Detroit News|access-date=2015-07-11}}

The reorganization and the city's search for a new police headquarters raised concerns within the Detroit Police Department which included overcrowding issues and increased response times.{{cite news |url=http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0508/30/A01-297330.htm |title=Detroit to trim 150 cops, precincts |date=30 August 2005 |publisher=Detroit News|access-date=2015-07-11}} Michigan and Detroit economic squeezes sustained re-organizational impetus. Then Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings (now retired) reassigned sworn officers from desks to squad cars, consolidating and reducing the number of precincts.

In 2007, Detroit was named the most dangerous city in the US by a Morgan Quitno report published by CQ Press. The report was denounced by the American Society of Criminology as an "irresponsible misuse" of crime data.{{cite news |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-16-2007/0004707515&EDATE= |title=Criminologists Condemn City crime rankings |date=November 16, 2008 |publisher=PRNewswire |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118131716/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F11-16-2007%2F0004707515&EDATE= |url-status=live }} The U.S Conference of Mayors and the FBI have cautioned against using the Morgan Quitno – CQ Press report ranking cities as 'safest' or 'most dangerous'.{{cite news |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-18-2007/0004707938&EDATE= |title=The U.S Conference of Mayors challenges city crime rankings |date=November 18, 2008 |newspaper=PRNewswire |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118131720/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F11-18-2007%2F0004707938&EDATE= |url-status=live }}

{{col-begin}}{{col-break|width=.5%}}

{{col-break|width=10%}}

{{col-break|width=200%}}

{{col-end}}

• Murder City: Detroit - 100 Years of Crime and Violence, 2008

{{Portal|Michigan|Law}}

• Crime in Michigan
• Law of Michigan
• Decline of Detroit
• History of Detroit
• Detroit riots including the 1967 Detroit riot
• List of United States cities by crime rate

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Cite book|author=Greenberg, Michael R. |title=Restoring America's Neighborhoods: How local people make a difference |year=1999|publisher= Rutgers University Press|isbn=0813527120}}
• {{Cite book|author=Wilks, Jeff|author2=Donna Pendergast|author3=Peter Leggat|name-list-style=amp |title=Tourism in Turbulent Times: Toward Safe Experiences for Visitors|year=2006|publisher=Elsevier |isbn=0080446663}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080321164645/http://www.detroitmi.gov/Departments/PoliceDepartment/tabid/141/Default.aspx Detroit Police Department official site]

{{Detroit}}

{{Detroit Police Department|state=autocollapse}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crime In Detroit, Michigan}}

Detroit