Detroit police make fewer arrests, crime soars

Violent crime is up but arrests are down in Detroit, and some inside the police department blame low officer morale, reported The Detroit News.

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw significantly fewer arrests in most precincts and districts compared with previous years — and the largest declines were in some of the city's most crime-ridden areas.

In the Eastern District, which Cmdr. Steve Dolunt called "the most violent district in the country," arrests plummeted from 1,899 in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 1,700 during the same period last year.

Two years ago, the district had 2,342 arrests in the fourth quarter.

"We're down; I'm not happy about that," Dolunt said during a recent Detroit Police Command Accountability meeting, reported the News. "I think it's morale — (officers) don't want to make arrests; they don't want to go to court."

Detroit has been, and continues to be, one of the most dangerous cities in America. According to the News, there were a total of 411 murders in the city last year when 25 justifiable homicides are added, including three police shootings. Last year's 386 homicides was also up over 2010's total of 308.

With a homicide rate among the highest in the nation, Detroit residents are more likely to be killed now than nearly 40 years ago when the city was known as the Murder Capital, according to earlier unofficial data.
To read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130211/METRO01/302110340#ixzz2KsTSjTOx