Tuesday, February 12 2013 7:49 AM EST2013-02-12 12:49:50 GMT
Violent crime is up in Detroit, but arrests are significantly down. It's a bad time for low morale to affect how police do their jobs, but one officer says that's exactly what's happening.
Violent crime is up in Detroit, but arrests are significantly down. It's a bad time for low morale to affect how police do their jobs, but one officer says that's exactly what's happening.
DETROIT (WJBK) -
A Detroit police officer says plumbing problems at a city precinct forced he and his colleagues to step over feces, toilet paper and urine for weeks as officials tried to deal with the mess.
The veteran officer says the backup at the city's 12th Precinct along 7 Mile Road made working conditions unbearable.
"Everybody needs to know," said the officer, who sat down with FOX 2 but wished to remain anonymous. "Everyone needs to know how we're being treated."
According to the officer, the sewage smells began to take over the men's locker room three weeks ago. "We complained about it," said the officer. "Everyone who came out made noise about it." But he says all that noise-making never made a bit of difference. "We just dealt with it like we've been dealing with everything else."
The officer says his colleagues were forced to step over feces, toilet paper and urine coming up from the floor drain in order to get their lockers. (See the photo gallery above for more pics sent in to FOX 2)
The officer says a shoddy cleanup job was executed, and yellow caution sign with a "bio hazard" paper taped to it was placed in the locker room. Officers were told to avoid the area and use the facilities in the front of the precinct.
The officer says since then, the building's plumbing problems have only gotten worse. He says a sewer backup in the prisoner area forced officers to move the inmates to different quarters. "They got them out of harm's way immediately. They basically told us we had to deal with what's coming up through the floor."
Detroit police spokeswoman Sgt. Eren Stephens did send FOX 2 photos Monday night of the cleaned up locker room. She did admit, however, that it took several days to clean up and disinfect the area.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:02 AM EDT2013-05-22 04:02:09 GMT
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Thursday, May 16 2013 8:23 PM EDT2013-05-17 00:23:43 GMT
54-year-old Almeter Walls was set to have a transplant surgery on Thursday, but instead she is dead. We're told she was shot when a neighborhood argument ended in gunfire. The shooting also left four others wounded.
54-year-old Almeter Walls was set to have a transplant surgery on Thursday, but instead she is dead. We're told she was shot when a neighborhood argument ended in gunfire. The shooting also left four others wounded.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:17 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:17:22 GMT
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino.
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino. 42-year-old Myron Williams is on probation in Michigan for a drug paraphernalia charge. He also has quite a past in Louisiana.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:43:35 GMT
Brian Woehlke and his family
All funds collected will be donated to the Westland Fire Fighters Charity's fund for the family of fallen firefighter Brian Woehlke, who passed away while battling a Westland fire on May 8.
All funds collected will be donated to the Westland Fire Fighters Charity's fund for the family of fallen firefighter Brian Woehlke, who passed away while battling a Westland fire on May 8.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:28 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:28:15 GMT
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:17:02 GMT
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing two dozen and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing two dozen and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:02 AM EDT2013-05-22 04:02:09 GMT
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:59 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:59:19 GMT
Some Detroiters say their neighbor is hoarding dogs. She has been accused of doing it before. In 2011, 25 dogs were removed from her home, but we're told a case was never brought.
Some Detroiters say their neighbor is hoarding dogs. She has been accused of doing it before. In 2011, 25 dogs were removed from her home, but we're told a case was never brought.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:14:08 GMT
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:30 GMT
An expansive plan to merge two southeastern Michigan health systems into a single, $6.4 billion nonprofit organization with 10 hospitals has fizzled out.
An expansive plan to merge two southeastern Michigan health systems into a single, $6.4 billion nonprofit organization with 10 hospitals has fizzled out.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:46 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:46:25 GMT
Judge Wade McCree took the witness stand on Tuesday. The embattled judge had a lot to say about his affair with a woman who stood in his courtroom. His wife had something to say about it, too.
Judge Wade McCree took the witness stand on Tuesday. The embattled judge had a lot to say about his affair with a woman who stood in his courtroom. His wife had something to say about it, too.
A photo taken in the 12th Precinct's locker room.
