Detroit Crime Reduction Remarks | DPC

Good morning, Detroit!

Thank you, Mayor Duggan, for your kind words and all the remarkable work you’ve done for the people of Detroit.

I also want to thank Deputy Mayor Bettison, Chief White, the Detroit Police Department, Executive Evans, members of Detroit City Council, and all those here today for your warm welcome.

We’re profoundly grateful for your partnership and your commitment to keeping Detroit safe.

I’m Neera Tanden, Director of the Domestic Policy Council in President Biden and Vice President Harris’ White House.

President Biden and Vice President Harris understand—as do all of you—that public safety is the foundation for supporting thriving communities, growing small businesses, and securing stronger schools.

I lead the administration’s work on crime policy – work that’s guided by the PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT’S STEADFAST BELIEF THAT THE FIRST DUTY OF GOVERNMENT IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

I’m here today because Detroit is leading the country in reducing crime and improving public safety. While some may demean Detroit, we see it as a role-model for the country.

Their entire careers reflect this commitment:

As a U.S. Senator, President Biden supported legislation that put 136,000 more officers on patrol nationwide to ensure accountable community policing.

As a District Attorney and California’s Attorney General, Vice President Harris tackled gang violence and shut down illegal gun trafficking through strong work with law enforcement.

I’ve worked directly with Vice President Harris to ensure that the U.S. Department of Justice is a great partner with localities to keep communities safe.

And since Day One of our Administration, they’ve been committed to getting Detroit the federal investments and support needed to make communities safer.

That’s why they passed the AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, or ARP, with Vice President Harris casting the tie breaking vote that led to its passage.

ARP has provided a HISTORIC $15 billion to municipalities all across the country for public safety.

These investments led to THE LARGEST EVER FEDERAL INVESTMENT in public safety and violent crime prevention in AMERICAN HISTORY.

Today, we’ve gotten to see FIRST-HAND how federal and local collaboration is making people safer, right here in Detroit.

With more than $100 million from ARP, Detroit has funded critical hiring and technology upgrades to keep crime rates plummeting.

DPD used $4.8 million in ARP funding to give bonuses to every sworn officer and every police assistant during COVID, to recognize their bravery and sacrifices in keeping us safe.

Using ARP funds, Detroit also purchased cutting-edge technology and equipment to stay ahead of violent criminals.

And as a result, Detroit is safer. Homicides are at a record low. Violent crime is lower than during any year of the previous administration.

As criminals innovate, we have to innovate faster to stay ahead, and Detroit is DOING JUST THAT.

Detroit PD has been a national leader in using these federal investments.

With $4.2 million in ARP funding, DPD acquired a police helicopter, and upgraded two others.

This new helicopter, equipped with a thermal camera, tracks suspects during high-speed pursuits, allowing police to respond effectively while minimizing risk.

Turns out, when you’ve got extra eyes in the sky, you DON’T need a car chase.

And speaking of cars….

DPD also invested $1.7 million of ARP funding to purchase 50 NEW police cruisers, to reduce response times for violent gun crimes—50 NEW CRUISERS.

More police cars on the street, means more violent offenders off the streets, FASTER.

I also visited Detroit’s Real-Time Crime Center, a facility partly funded by federal grants, and supported by federal partners who share intelligence.

This center uses data-driven technology to track crime in real-time, optimizes responses to solve crimes in-the-act, better support prosecutions, and prevent criminals from escaping justice.

And we KNOW THIS: EFFECTIVE policing means TRUSTED policing.

President Biden and Vice President Harris reject the notion that we must choose between STRONG POLICE and STRONG COMMUNITY PROTECTIONS. The two go hand in hand.

When officers build trust, communities are safer, and Detroit is proof.

DPD is reinforcing this bond of trust with nearly $11 million from ARP, to enhance its training facility on Linwood Street.

Officers now have a world-class environment to hone their de-escalation skills, empowering them to use less force, improving safety for officers and residents alike.

Detroit is also leveraging its federal partnerships.

A great example of this partnership is Operation North Star—a collaboration with the U.S. Marshal Service, focused on apprehending violent fugitives.

Last year, Operation North Star led to OVER 800 ARRESTS across the country, including 95 violent offenders RIGHT HERE in Detroit and Wayne County.

And we’re seeing REAL results.

Because of these federal investments, partnerships, and the courageous work of the DPD, Detroit has achieved double-digit declines in violent crime and homicide.

In fact:

Since President Biden took office, homicide in Detroit is DOWN by 24%.

In 2023, homicides DROPPED by 18%, resulting in the LOWEST number of homicides since 1966.

And, through August of this year, homicides are DOWN by DOUBLE DIGITS, while violent crime has DROPPED again.

Nationally, we’re seeing similar progress, with homicides FALLING 12% in 2023—America’s LARGEST DECREASE EVER—and DROPPING by 23% in the first half of this year.

Because of our partnership, violent crime nationwide is DOWN TO a 50-year low.

And here in Detroit, homicides are DOWN TO a 57-year low.

These outcomes are NO ACCIDENT—they’re the result of the HARD WORK of BRAVE OFFICERS, and GAME-CHANGING FEDERAL INVESTMENTS.

These partnerships mean MORE officers, MORE technology, and MORE collaboration—all translating into SAFER streets and neighborhoods.

The results speak for themselves.

Gun crimes are down, and Detroit is safer today under President Biden and Vice President Harris than it was under the previous administration.

THAT’S REAL CHANGE, DELIVERED.

With her experience as a prosecutor, the Vice President understands that building trust and reducing crime go HAND IN HAND.

The President and the whole Biden-Harris Administration understand that as well.

We’re SO inspired to see Detroit roaring back because of the HARD WORK of the people HERE TODAY.

And, we’re SO proud to partner with Detroit to create a model for all of America that STRENGTHENS public safety and RENEWS hope and opportunity.

And, I want to take the good practices we’ve seen here today, to other parts of the country.

So, let me say this clearly:

The President and Vice President will NEVER STOP FIGHTING to SUPPORT YOUR WORK;

Because there’s NOTHING more important than what YOU DO.

YOUR job is to protect people.

OUR job is to make sure you have the resources to do just that.

Detroit’s law enforcement are the heroes who run towards danger. They represent the very best of this country.

You keep this city safe, and we’re grateful for your service.

Because together, we’re making Detroit—and our nation—a safer place

Where families can thrive, where children are safer, and where businesses can grow.

There’s still more work to do, and we look forward to doing it together.

Thank you!

Good afternoon, everyone!

Thank you, AG Nessel, members of the Michigan State Police, and others, for such a warm welcome.

I’m Neera Tanden, the Director of the Domestic Policy Council in President Biden and Vice President Harris’ White House. I oversee crime policy for the President.

It’s an honor to be with you today.

We’re so proud of our partnerships with state and local law enforcement across the country.

The President and Vice President often say that, “There’s no greater responsibility of government than ensuring the safety of the American people, AND the safety of our law enforcement, who sacrifice to protect us all.”

That’s why from DAY ONE of this Administration, the President and Vice Harris have been LASER FOCUSED on PARTNERING with and SUPPORTING YOU—our local law enforcement and community leaders—to keep Americans safe.

Thanks to the President and Vice President’s American Rescue Plan, which was passed without a single Republican vote, led to $15 billion — $15 BILLION in investments in public safety. To give cities, counties, and states the resources you need to make communities safer.

It led to the SINGLE LARGEST FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFTEY AND CRIME REDUCTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Because of these historic federal investments, and newly emboldened federal-local law enforcement partnerships, we’re seeing RECORD DECLINES in crime around the country, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN MICHIGAN.

People DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE in their community, in their stores.

Organized retail crime threatens to undermine that feeling of safety.

LET ME SAY THIS CLEARLY: WE CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN, AND TOGETHER, WE WON’T

PROTECTING public safety, PROMOTING thriving communities, and BOLSTERING a strong economy, requires COLLABORATION between local, state, and federal agencies to STOP criminal organizations that steal and sell retail goods.

That’s why President Biden and Vice President Harris have encouraged our government agencies to PRIORITIZE federal partnerships with state and local police.

The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, USPS, and Customs and Border Protection are now working MORE CLOSELY WITH YOU THAN EVER BEFORE, to bolster your investigations and prosecutions.

And through these collaborations, we’re seeing RESULTS.

Through these local-state-and-federal-law-enforcement-partnerships, in addition to the efforts of our industry partners, the FORCE team has made TREMENDOUS PROGRESS.

IF YOU WANT PROOF—JUST WALK OUTSIDE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE LARGE PALLETS OF RECOVERED STOLEN AND COUNTERFEIT GOODS.

I appreciate the opportunity to hear from investigators and retailers about your innovative efforts to address these crimes.

Before we dive in, I want to say one more thing, as clearly as I can, on behalf of the White House.

WE HEAR YOU, AND WE’RE WITH YOU.

Crime, and especially retail crime, has NO PLACE in this country, and President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with you against anyone who seeks to do harm to YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR EFFORTS, AND KEEP YOU ONE-STEP-AHEAD OF THE CRIMINALS YOU FACE.

I’m excited to hear from this panel about the challenges you’ve overcome, and the actions you’ve taken.

You’re a national leader in this fight, and I look forward to taking these lessons back to the White House, so we can spread the word about the successful strategies YOU’RE EMPLOYING, to REDUCE ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RIGHT HERE IN MICHIGAN.

My first question is Colonel James Grady II, Director of the Michigan State Police

[to Col. James Grady II, Director of the Michigan State Police] In your experience, what has been the most effective in addressing organized retail crime and how have federal partnerships helped your work?

[to AG Nessel] Why did you establish the FORCE Team and how successful have you been?

[to Edward Henkel, Senior Manager of Global Investigations for Walmart] Can you talk about the impact of the FORCE team’s work on retailers like Walmart and your customers?

[to Tom Clement, COO of Michigan Retailers Association] As the FORCE team does it work, how best can retailers contribute to their work?

[to Chief Chad Baugh, Canton PD] How do you identify and investigate the leaders of organized retail crime groups?