Detroit, MI – Several officers from the Northeastern District of the Detroit Police staged a sickout in protest of Mayor Dave Bing's announcements of cuts around the city. Detroit Police Chief Ralph L. Godbee issued this statement regarding the sickout:
"The Northeastern District has had approximately sixteen officers that did not complete their respective tour of duty for the 4pm-8pm shift. The timing of such has caused the issue to be investigated by Detroit Police Internal Affairs. Preliminary information leads me to believe this is a concerted effort isolated to one shift at one District. Resources have been redeployed to plug the gap left in this shift and all operations are normal.
I will provide a more detailed media briefing relative to Internal Affairs preliminary findings on Monday."
Local 4 is being told this was indeed an isolated incident. The midnight shift at the Northeastern District ends soon, and a supervisor at the station says the things are business as usual.
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There is growing concern among Detroit over whether or not this sickout will catch on with other police precincts around the city. So far, Local 4 hasn't seen anything to suggest this will happen.
An investigation into the staged sickout is being handled internally within the Detroit Police Department.