Detroit's eight police precincts and districts are once again open for business around the clock, reports the city’s News. Effective Sunday, Police Chief James Craig jettisoned the unpopular “Virtual Precincts” model that was initiated last year to allow more officers to patrol the city.
Former Chief Ralph Godbee started the “Virtual Precincts” concept in January 2012, in which the precincts and districts were closed from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. The officers who manned the stations during those hours were redeployed to patrol positions. Department officials noted at the time precincts in cities such as Boston and Lansing close each afternoon. But critics rejected the comparisons since few communities have Detroit's high crime rate.