James Craig Aug. 8.jpg

Detroit Police Chief James Craig speaks at a press conference on Aug. 8, 2013.

(Gus Burns | Mlive Detroit)

Detroit Police Chief James Craig came to Detroit as a department outsider and has in his first month tallied an unhealthy number of baffling observations.

"I wish I could make this stuff up," said Craig Thursday after sharing some of those findings with media.

The city received a nearly $400,000 federal grant to purchase a new Special Response Team BearCat, an armored personnel carrier.

"But for whatever reason we decide and let the grant lapse and at the last minute a local law enforcement partner took advantage of it and now has this SRT vehicle," said Craig. "This is only one of many, so we're taking a very critical look at the grants we should have gotten, didn't get because they just lapsed."

Craig continued to rattle off "troubling" issues.

The city had 53 brand new Dodge Chargers sitting in a warehouse collecting dust waiting to be used as police vehicles. Craig says the department has Department of Justice grant funds to equip them, but action has yet to be taken.

"It's bizarre, I know," said Craig.

Furthermore, Craig said, the city continues to maintain lease agreements on patrol vehicles, some well over five years old.

Based on the cost of the leases, Craig said some of the vehicles could have been purchased outright "over and over again."

"When I've asked the question, I've gotten different answers," Craig said. "And some of these lease vehicles that we're paying on have blown engines, so they're not even operational.

"You may detect a little frustration in my voice, but again it goes back to... accountability, status quo, no sense of urgency."

In addition to the idle Dodge Chargers, the department has a helicopter it received via a U.S. Military grant that is awaiting City Council approval to activate for use.

The department has funding to hire 60 new officers, yet the current academy class only had about 25 recruits due to class limitations. "That is unacceptable," said Craig.

To correct the lack of future officers in the academy, the department is conducting a recruiting fair on Saturday Aug. 17 at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Much of Craig's focus seems to be on the personnel, hierarchy and structure of the department.

He's already reversed some of the changes made by former chief Ralph L. Godbee Jr., including the reopening of 24-hour precincts and the elimination of virtual after-hours precincts.

Godbee also instituted 12-hour shifts, which Craig said some officers prefer but others do not. He is looking at testing both 10- and 8-hour shifts to see if those schedules are more efficient and accepted by officers.

In the future, the Detroit Police Department organizational structure will be much "flatter," said Craig.

On Monday, Craig says Mayor Dave Bing's 22-member executive protection team will be reduced to six. He's cutting the police officers dedicated to City Council from six to three. Those officers will also be required to wear uniforms while attending City Council meetings, whereas in the past they have worn plain clothes.

The chief was miffed to find a sworn officer in his office upon arriving to town whose sole job it was to clean and maintain executive staff vehicles. That officer, as well as three others in his office who were performing clerical duties, have been reassigned to operational positions.

Sworn officers working as dispatchers; no more, says Craig.

A sworn police officer who works as a mechanic; no more, says Craig.

"First and foremost is patrol," Craig said. "We should not use police officers in positions better staffed for civilians; we should not have police officers working as clerks."

The department is currently staffs 2,419 officers with an attrition rate of 20 to 25 per month. The department is looking to add 60 new officers.