(Pictured Above: Detroit Public Safety Headquarters)
Public Safety in Detroit, Michigan
Once a thriving city, Detroit, Michigan is now an almost ghost-town riddled with crime and poverty. But the people of Detroit have decided to make a change. Slowly, the city is working to make a change for the better.
THE ENVIRONMENT
As the population of Detroit declined from 2 million to under 700,000, the amount of abandoned buildings increased dramatically. As of 2013, there was an estimated and 70,000 abandoned buildings, 31,000 empty homes, and 90,000 vacant lots in the city.
Abandoned buildings are a serious danger to the citizens of Detroit.
Abandoned houses are often home to drug users or prostitution. In these cases, abandoned houses enable people that are dangers to themselves by giving them a place to hide or do business from. As these structures are not kept up, they are vulnerable to collapse, possibly harming any squatters currently living in these buildings. They are also serious fire hazards to neighboring buildings. 60% of Detroit's annual 12,000 fires involved abandoned buildings.
Many of the abandoned buildings in Detroit include abandoned factories. These buildings are especially susceptible to collapse and arson due to their size and lack of up-keep. As factories typically have more windows, falling glass and support structures can cause injury to not only people who may be inside, but the people who may be around the building. Often, toxic waste is left behind when a factory is abandoned, and coming into contact with these are a risk to one's health.
In 2010, the city had finally decided to make a change to the issue pertaining to the abandoned buildings, and Mayor Bing had set forth a plan to bulldoze all of the abandoned structures in the city, and the Detroit Demolition Program was set forth. Since 2014, Detroit has taken down more than 11,000 vacant buildings, 3,771 of which were in 2016. In April of 2017, there are over 500 scheduled demolitions.
As the population of Detroit declined from 2 million to under 700,000, the amount of abandoned buildings increased dramatically. As of 2013, there was an estimated and 70,000 abandoned buildings, 31,000 empty homes, and 90,000 vacant lots in the city.
Abandoned buildings are a serious danger to the citizens of Detroit.
Abandoned houses are often home to drug users or prostitution. In these cases, abandoned houses enable people that are dangers to themselves by giving them a place to hide or do business from. As these structures are not kept up, they are vulnerable to collapse, possibly harming any squatters currently living in these buildings. They are also serious fire hazards to neighboring buildings. 60% of Detroit's annual 12,000 fires involved abandoned buildings.
Many of the abandoned buildings in Detroit include abandoned factories. These buildings are especially susceptible to collapse and arson due to their size and lack of up-keep. As factories typically have more windows, falling glass and support structures can cause injury to not only people who may be inside, but the people who may be around the building. Often, toxic waste is left behind when a factory is abandoned, and coming into contact with these are a risk to one's health.
In 2010, the city had finally decided to make a change to the issue pertaining to the abandoned buildings, and Mayor Bing had set forth a plan to bulldoze all of the abandoned structures in the city, and the Detroit Demolition Program was set forth. Since 2014, Detroit has taken down more than 11,000 vacant buildings, 3,771 of which were in 2016. In April of 2017, there are over 500 scheduled demolitions.
ILLUMINATING THE CITY
The lighting in Detroit was, at one point, the worst in the country. As of 2013, over 40% of the 88,000 street lamps in the city did not work; that's over 35,000 lamps. Non-functioning street lights are a serious hazard to nighttime drivers. Headlights will only illuminate the road so far. To add on to that, lights provide a better sense of security in the dark. In the darkness, you feel scared and vulnerable, especially walking around in such a dangerous city.
But recently, the city has been making effort to light the city up again. They had set a goal to install 65,000 new street lights. A decline from the original 88,000, but there is no need for so many with such a drastic population decline. $185 million went to fixing the street lights, and 80% (56,000 lights) had been completed as of the end of 2015! More lights have been concentrated around neighborhoods and school zones. By December of 2016, the city had reached their goal, 65,000 bright LED lights illuminating the streets.
The lighting in Detroit was, at one point, the worst in the country. As of 2013, over 40% of the 88,000 street lamps in the city did not work; that's over 35,000 lamps. Non-functioning street lights are a serious hazard to nighttime drivers. Headlights will only illuminate the road so far. To add on to that, lights provide a better sense of security in the dark. In the darkness, you feel scared and vulnerable, especially walking around in such a dangerous city.
But recently, the city has been making effort to light the city up again. They had set a goal to install 65,000 new street lights. A decline from the original 88,000, but there is no need for so many with such a drastic population decline. $185 million went to fixing the street lights, and 80% (56,000 lights) had been completed as of the end of 2015! More lights have been concentrated around neighborhoods and school zones. By December of 2016, the city had reached their goal, 65,000 bright LED lights illuminating the streets.
EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL
For years, the Detroit Police Department has had many issues. The low amount of police officers results in a high response time, which is not only unacceptable, but a danger to the citizens. Prior to bankruptcy, the police officers of Detroit took a 10% pay decrease, and due to them being so low-payed, the officers won't stay. As soon as training is finished, police officers often move into safer areas. In 20 years, the Detroit Police Department went from 4,000 officers to 1,700; nearly cutting their numbers in half. At one point, the response time for an officer to respond to a distress call was almost an hour. Luckily, in 2015, that number dropped to about 17 minutes, which is still 6 minutes slower than the national average, but still a major improvement.
EMS response vehicles suffered the same issues for quite some time. In 2014, the average response time was about 20 minutes for a distress call, and as of 2015, the average had gotten that number down to around 11 minutes. In May of 2016, the EMS in Detroit had finally hit the national average of 8 minutes. Not just one, but all distress calls that spring were responded to within that 8 minute expectation.
These recent vast improvements are all due to the introduction of brand new EMS ambulances and patrol cars. 100 patrol cars and 23 EMS vehicles were part of an $8 million donation to help better the public safety in Detroit. These vehicles were donated through the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
For years, the Detroit Police Department has had many issues. The low amount of police officers results in a high response time, which is not only unacceptable, but a danger to the citizens. Prior to bankruptcy, the police officers of Detroit took a 10% pay decrease, and due to them being so low-payed, the officers won't stay. As soon as training is finished, police officers often move into safer areas. In 20 years, the Detroit Police Department went from 4,000 officers to 1,700; nearly cutting their numbers in half. At one point, the response time for an officer to respond to a distress call was almost an hour. Luckily, in 2015, that number dropped to about 17 minutes, which is still 6 minutes slower than the national average, but still a major improvement.
EMS response vehicles suffered the same issues for quite some time. In 2014, the average response time was about 20 minutes for a distress call, and as of 2015, the average had gotten that number down to around 11 minutes. In May of 2016, the EMS in Detroit had finally hit the national average of 8 minutes. Not just one, but all distress calls that spring were responded to within that 8 minute expectation.
These recent vast improvements are all due to the introduction of brand new EMS ambulances and patrol cars. 100 patrol cars and 23 EMS vehicles were part of an $8 million donation to help better the public safety in Detroit. These vehicles were donated through the Downtown Detroit Partnership.