Nov. 22--After walking off of the job Friday, 17 Detroit police officers have been suspended, pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation, Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said in a statement today.
The officers, from the Northeastern District, left their post between 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, just days after Detroit Mayor Dave Bing proposed a 10% pay cut for police and fire personnel.
The officers are alleged to be in violation of a state statute entitled "Participation in a Strike."
"The allegations, if founded, are a breach of the public trust and as such presented a very dangerous situation for citizens of the city of Detroit and members of the Detroit Police Department," Godbee said in the statement.
Over the weekend, Godbee took to the Web, addressing his officers in a video posted over the weekend and calling layoffs are a "worst case scenario."
In the video, Godbee said Bing has "firmly committed that he would not gut public safety to achieve the city's financial goals."
Godbee said there have been "wild rumors" that there would be hundreds of layoffs. He said the numbers being speculated are false, adding that the unions that represent Detroit's officers are negotiating with the administration and trying to reach concessions.
"So, as we work toward concessions, what we will look like after that is done, none of us really know," Godbee said, adding that "layoffs will be a worst case, last-ditch scenario."
He said the rumors need to stop.
"So lets take a deep breath," Godbee said in the video. "Lets step back and lets remember what we are here to do. We're here to serve. We're here to protect. We are the last hope for a lot of people. We provide protection. We save lives."
In a statement over the weekend, Godbee said the department's Internal Affairs will investigate the officers who left their shifts early Friday.
"Preliminary information leads me to believe this is a concerted effort isolated to one shift at one district," he said
In his video over the weekend, Godbee encouraged frustrated officers to speak with their supervisors and command officers.
"But lets remain professional," he said. "And I think the best case we can make for what we mean to the city of Detroit is to continue to go out, lock up bad guys, continue to save lives, continue to make sure that we make Detroit a safer place."
Watch the video:
Contact Gina Damron: 313-223-4526 or [email protected].
Copyright 2011 - Detroit Free Press
