The 8th and 9th precincts are two of the most violent precincts in the city of Detroit, according to the US Attorney’s Office. However, during a news conference Thursday afternoon, US attorney Dawson Ison said those numbers are down this summer compared to 2023.
“Please don’t mistake this for a celebration. The amount of violence in this city is still unacceptable and we will not stop this work until we see numbers in lower and double digits and even single digits,” Ison said.
She was joined by Detroit Police Chief James White, Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, and other stakeholders with the One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership at the press conference.
Ison announced homicides dropped from 86 to 68, and non-fatal shootings decreased from 306 to 282. Leaders credit the partnership’s community engagement activities like community picnics or peacenics, community peace huddles, re-entry roundtables, and community peace marches.
Chief White said, “And with those peacenics we’re able to do different things. We’re able to, one, let citizens see us in a non-confrontational way, whether they’re playing checkers, basketball or just sitting and talking.”