Detroit Police Chief James Craig said battling violence at gas stations has been a constant battle.
“It’s no secret that in certain neighborhoods those are the places where people gather,” Chief Craig said. “Late hours of the night, early morning hours so for a would be robber it’s a place of opportunity.”
And it’s no secret to neighbors like Able Austin.
“I don’t think it’s anything new I just think it’s been getting a lot more attention,” Austin said.
Austin says you learn to be very careful when getting gas.
“Gas stations have always been easy targets for criminals because people are most vulnerable, not paying attention,” Austin said.
Chief Craig says his Green Light Project is trying to combat that.
“We wanted to create places that were safe heavens. Locations with certain like characteristics,” Chief Craig said.
There are more than 310 green light locations. These are businesses that get special attention from police like HD security cameras and quicker response times.
“Now we have something clearly that I call the new policing innovation of this time,” Chief Craig said.
Chief Craig said he believes this will be what helps deter crime.
“We want Detroit to be a safe city,” Chief Craig said. “We are going to continue to push it. We know as a department that green light is working despite what the critics will say.”
