Detroit police roll out community policing initiative

Police chief says aim is to crack down on smaller crimes to curb actions of bigger crimes

DETROIT – Detroit police are rolling out a new program in one area of the city to curb crime.

Starting in June, Rosedale Park will get the "broken windows" initiative – the theory of attacking small crimes to wane down the big crimes. It comes from the Manhattan Institute and has been used to turn around crime rates in New York's subway system and Times Square.

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee held a news conference Tuesday with a congressman and nationally known crime expert in a driveway in the neighborhood.

The community policing initiative focuses on increasing the felt presence of security in the area, flooding the neighborhood not only with police officers but aware residents.

Godbee said the aim is to enforce things like littering and speeding to send a message that no crimes, no matter their severity, are acceptable.

Godbee said it's important to identify suspicious behavior before crime happens and use a moral community backbone to spark alertness.

Godbee said the initiative will be in a 90-day testing period.