Federal grants will keep DPD officers on the street

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The Detroit Police Department has received a federal grant that will help keep 108 officers on the street.

The grant was anticipated last week when the department issued lay-off notices to the officers. The notices has an effective date of February 20, 2012.

At the time sources within the department said the move was a procedural matter and that they did not believe any officers would actually be laid off.

At issue were two federal grants from the Department of Justice that are set to be used for hiring new officers. DPD plans to repurpose those grants to be used to pay officers, but the only way to eventually hire them back is to lay them off first.

“On behalf of the men and women of the Detroit Police Department, I would like to thank the United States Department of Justice’s COPS Office and Director Bernard Melekian for approving our amendment to the original awards, which will allow us to retain these fine officers,” stated Chief Ralph L. Godbee, Jr.   “We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to retain our most valuable assets, our police officers."

“I also wish to thank the United States Department of Justice’s COPS Office and Director Melekian for understanding the challenges that face the city of Detroit in approving this grant,” stated Mayor Dave Bing.  “I am very proud of the Detroit Police Department and their commitment to the safety of the citizens of Detroit.”