They range from complaints about the use of excessive force against innocent citizens to attempts to subvert the course of justice by falsifying documents and making false arrests. These payouts over more than a decade raise concerns that the line between aggressive police work and misconduct is being crossed too often. Civil rights violations pose an additional problem. Detroit is the undisputed leader among big cities in fatal shootings by police. Departmental management has not been effective in dealing with these serious problems.
Internal policy is inconsistent in investigating or punishing wrongdoers.
A Detroit News investigation found that department officials were apt to close ranks and shield bad cops. The civilian Board of Police Commissioners, appointed by the mayor to serve as watchdogs, has proved impotent in the midst of the controversies. Effective anti-crime strategies are also lacking. While crime rates have fallen in Detroit, they have not fallen at a rate similar to declines in other cities. In fairness, the heavy volume of lawsuits and questionable policies precede the current administration and police chief.