The Detroit News Officer Denise Balinski remembers patroling a street the day after the beating and finding a less-than warm reception from people. You still feel it. One change was the issuance of pepper spray that allowed officers to subdue struggling or violent suspects. In addition, the department chucked heavy metal flashlights like the one used on Green.
Officers now use lightweight, plastic flashlights.
But perhaps the most troubling changes stemming from Green's death went on inside officers' heads as they patrolled a city that seemed to turn against them in the days after the beating. Officer Denise Balinski, a 12-year veteran, remembers patroling a street the day after the beating. Everyone person she saw gave her the finger. Young publicly said the officers were responsible for killing Green even before an investigation was launched. Seven officers at the scene were suspended immediately after Green's death.