Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Federal Judge Recommends New Monitor For Detroit Police by September 30

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Judge: Recommend new federal monitor for Detroit police by Sept. 30

Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- A federal judge wants the U.S. Justice Department and the city of Detroit to recommend a new federal monitor for the Detroit Police Department by the end of September, the judge said today.

U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. set a timetable for replacing Sheryl Robinson Wood, who resigned last month after text messages reviewed by the FBI showed she had a "personal relationship" and inappropriate communications with former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

The monitor is charged with making sure police comply with two federal court orders the police agreed to in 2003 to settle lawsuits brought by the Justice Department over alleged civil rights abuses. One order relates to use of force; the other relates to arrests and the condition of holding cells.

In an order issued today, Cook said he wants the city and the Justice Department to jointly submit the name of a qualified monitor by Sept. 30. Cook said he determined an earlier Aug. 31 deadline he set was premature.

The city and Justice Department plan to issue a request for proposals for those interested in the job. Cook said he wants the request issued by Friday, and said interested parties should be given two weeks to respond.

The federal monitor has cost the city about $14 million since 2003.

pegan@detnews.com (313) 222-2069

Find this article at:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090811/METRO01/908110414/Judge--Recommend-new-federal-monitor-for-Detroit-police-by-Sept.-30

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