It is not every day that one hears a police chief claim that a high arrest rate is not what his or her department is seeking. In fact, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, Jr. believes that a high arrest rate means that the system has failed. Godbee endorses other ways to promote public safety. Providing education, safe and affordable housing, and employment opportunities will bring crime down, claims Godbee.
Access to substance abuse treatment centers for addicts is more effective than arresting an addict for drug possession, is Godbee’s way of thinking. Detroit needs more mental health treatment programs for its citizens. Last week Godbee told Michigan’s deputy director of Bureau of Community Health Services, Elizabeth Kinsely, that when mental health services are inadequate, “mental illness gets criminalized.”
Godbee wants his department to be known for increasing public safety, but decreasing arrests. Godbee reassures the people of Detroit that arrests will be made. The goal, however, is to reach a person before a crime is committed. Godbee spoke at a Flip the Script program stating, “If we catch you doing wrong…I’m going to get you. But that’s not the goal. I don’t want to be patted on the back for how well we do dope sweeps or our response times. The response time means it’s already broken. A crime already happened.”
Transparency is another goal of Godbee’s police department. Godbee will provide quarterly reports that will let the public know where the DPD has failed, and where it has succeeded. Godbee has only been the police chief for nine months. He has his work cut out for him, but some progress has been made. From 2009 through 2010 the crime rate has fallen, Homicides dropped from 364 in 2009 to 308 in 2010. Assaults with a firearm fell from 1,307 to 1,170 during that same time period. Burglaries, robberies, larcenies, rapes and other assaults went down, also. This year, however, homicides and assaults with a fire arm rose 12%. Still, Godbee who rose through the ranks after joining the police department at age 19, will continue to work hard to bring those numbers down. He expects the community to take part in reducing the crime rate in the city, and invites them to share their opinions on how crime can be reduced.
To read the full article click here to go to website
Source: Detroit Free Press
|
|
|
|
