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Detroit fined over police reform delays
DETROIT, (UPI) -- The city of Detroit will pay a fine of $1,000 a day until it comes up with a plan for dealing with a backlog of citizen complaints against police, a judge says.
U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. ordered the fines Thursday in an angry ruling over the city's delays in addressing court-ordered police reforms, the Detroit Free press reported.
In a private meeting with Detroit city attorney Alan Charlton, Cook said, he made his displeasure known.
"I was extremely angry," the judge said. "I thought the city had insulted the federal judicial system."
"The only remedy I have now to get your attention is to impose monetary sanctions," Cook said in announcing the fines.
In the seven years since the a consent decree demanding police reforms was issued, the city has consistently failed to meet deadlines, the judge said.
"Time after time, I heard that things would be done by a certain time," Cook said.
After the announcement of the fines, Deputy Mayor Saul Green said, "The court has spoken, and we will comply."
The city will meet with reform monitors next week, he said, to formulate plans.
"Obviously we're very close," Green said. "We're within days."
DETROIT, (UPI) -- The city of Detroit will pay a fine of $1,000 a day until it comes up with a plan for dealing with a backlog of citizen complaints against police, a judge says.
U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. ordered the fines Thursday in an angry ruling over the city's delays in addressing court-ordered police reforms, the Detroit Free press reported.
In a private meeting with Detroit city attorney Alan Charlton, Cook said, he made his displeasure known.
"I was extremely angry," the judge said. "I thought the city had insulted the federal judicial system."
"The only remedy I have now to get your attention is to impose monetary sanctions," Cook said in announcing the fines.
In the seven years since the a consent decree demanding police reforms was issued, the city has consistently failed to meet deadlines, the judge said.
"Time after time, I heard that things would be done by a certain time," Cook said.
After the announcement of the fines, Deputy Mayor Saul Green said, "The court has spoken, and we will comply."
The city will meet with reform monitors next week, he said, to formulate plans.
"Obviously we're very close," Green said. "We're within days."