Detroit Police Commissioner Appeals to DOJ for Assistance, Citing Rampant Corruption Within His Department

Detroit's Police Commissioner, Ricardo Moore, has raised concerns about widespread corruption within the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and has appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for intervention.

Moore alleges that the misuse of facial recognition technology is contributing to the corruption issue. He asserts that the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) lacks sufficient data from the DPD to ensure transparency and accountability. Moore, a BOPC member, expressed his frustration, stating, "We can't give that public trust because we have our own investigations taking blocks."

To address these concerns, Moore proposes the involvement of a neutral party, specifically suggesting Dawn Ison, who oversees the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Michigan, as a potential collaborator.

One incident cited by Moore involves the wrongful arrest of a woman for carjacking due to alleged misidentification by facial recognition technology. However, DPD Chief James White denies this claim, attributing the wrongful arrest to human error. White commits to providing more comprehensive information about the department's facial recognition system to the board.

The DPD refutes Moore's allegations, deeming them "irresponsible" and baseless. The department acknowledges its commitment to enhancing transparency and data sharing by agreeing to modify the city’s weekly facial recognition report.

The DPD emphasizes that individual commissioners' views do not represent the entire board and underscores the importance of collaborative decision-making in a public body like the BOPC. The department also stresses that any suggestion of violating facial recognition policies is unfounded.

In conclusion, the Detroit Police Commissioner's claims of corruption and misuse of facial recognition technology within the DPD have sparked a call for DOJ involvement, leading to a complex and ongoing discussion regarding accountability, transparency, and the role of the Board of Police Commissioners.