One of the most invigorating realizations within the Detroit Police Department is that our members now serve as leaders in the field of public policy and best practices.
In the last 10 years alone, Detroit's finest has set new standards of excellence in the use of body-worn cameras, policies generally forbidding no-knock warrants, and mandates requiring its members to intervene should one of their colleagues act unlawfully.
The Detroit Police Department established its own internal risk management systems to identify high risk behavior before it turns problematic, and we introduced diversity, equity and inclusion (commonly known as DEI) into our philosophy.
Our most notable accomplishment, the one I am most proud of, is the trust and credibility our members have spent years cultivating in the community, credibility that paved the way to the most historic raises our officers have ever seen. There's a saying that the highest form of flattery is imitation, and that the best place to be is amongst the most critical thinkers. That's where we found ourselves months ago when progressive legislators contacted the city of Detroit to introduce what they regarded as a series of "police reform bills," Senate Bills 1091-1101.
One can imagine how I felt after reading the bills for the first time, realizing that while they may have been styled as police reform bills, they were essentially already-existing DPD policies, procedures and practices to be implemented across Michigan. Imagine the pride I experienced knowing the excellence of the Detroit Police Department's rank and file was at the forefront of proposed state legislation.
As our officers had been leading figures in these practices for years, I knew we had much to offer. Through collaboration, the bills underwent valuable editing to keep practical application viable while preserving their spirit. Ultimately, these bills reflect the standards of excellence set by our officers that will now serve as the benchmark foragencies across the state.
I couldn't be prouder of these officers and the excellence they continue to show.
Once adopted, Michigan agencies will see the same benefits that Detroit has seen in augmented trust and confidence within their communities, stronger levels of uniformity and cohesion with their rank and files, greater deference to transparency and overall increases in morale. But the greatest benefit, as every agency will see, is the knowledgethat the reputation of their agencies and officers will be heavily guarded through conformance to statewide standards established by our elected representatives for the benefit of Michigan residents.
On behalf of the Detroit Police Department, I fully support these bills and am proud to see the work of our members being honored and encapsulated in them.