The Detroit Police Department said it is 80 percent compliant on implementing policies developed as part of federally mandated reforms, the Detroit Free Press reports. Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. provided an update yesterday during a Community Command Accountability Meeting on reforms the department agreed in 2003 to implement, including curbing excessive force.
Godbee said the progress is significant compared with two years ago, when the department was only 29 percent compliant with implementing policies. Federal monitor Robert Warshaw said, “This is an important milestone.” Officials reviewed areas where the department has not been in compliance. Among those, the monitor found that detainees on suicide watch were not being constantly monitored and there was confusion about when constant monitoring is necessary. Officials said training has been conducted, but Godbee said the response has to be swift.