Detroit police chief makes no apologies for evacuation after security breach

DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief James Craig isn’t apologizing for his decision to evacuate the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center building on Monday after a gun was found during a security scan.

Dozens of police officers and other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, spent almost all of Monday searching for the person who had the gun in a bag, and who wasn’t stopped at the security checkpoint.

“I made a judgement call that we evacuate,” Craig said Tuesday morning, during a press conference outside the center. “I make no apologies for that decision.”

Craig acknowledged that the evacuation was an inconvenience and a “total disruption of county and city services,” but it was the interest in safety, which is his responsibility.

Craig said the security guard monitoring the security station walked away temporarily, which was a mistake.

Additionally, after the security guard saw the gun on the scan, it wasn’t reported for 30 minutes.

“It was a failure to communicate,” Craig said.

Early in the investigation, police released photographs of a man they called a person of interest. The man was located later in the day, but Craig said the man didn’t acknowledge having a gun, and no gun was recovered.

The center -- which houses a court and several government offices -- is located at 2 Woodward Avenue.

Situation is chance to review security in building

Craig said the situation has brought to light some security changes that need to be made in the building. Craig said he learned that some people are allowed to pass around security because they are known by the security officers. 

"That's going to change immediately," Craig said.

Private security managed the lobby of the building. The Sheriff's Office handles security of some of the other floors. 

Effective July 1, there will also be additional uniformed officers for "heightened visibility," Craig said.