When it comes to police response, Midtown is much like a Detroit suburb.
The Wayne State University police are known for their quick reactions to calls, which is a significant factor in why the neighborhood continues to flourish.
The South End, the Wayne State student newspaper, reports the campus force, whose members are sworn police officers with college degrees, are getting even busier as the Detroit Police Department suffers manpower shortages due to the city's financial crisis.
Lt. Dave Scott, a WSU cop for 35 years, tells reporter Daniel Dumas that the woes of the DPD have resulted in a higher demand of assistance from the WSUPD, who have begun responding to everything from parking complaints, to crimes in progress, to medical emergencies.
“Due to increasing severe financial problems in the city, the Detroit Police Department has fewer resources and fewer officers to respond to more and more requests for service,” said Scott. “Consequently, many Midtown residents and businesses no longer call 911 for routine or emergency police services, they call WSUPD instead.”
The level of safety in Midtown is a common concern that drivers, casual street walkers, and local business owners internally reflect upon frequently in this area. There are many stereotypes surrounding Midtown and its status of safety.
