Chief James Craig in Detroit police car.jpg

Detroit Police Chief James Craig

(Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI -- Detroit Police Chief James Craig, on a day when another citizen -- it appears -- shot and killed a criminal in the act of breaking into their home, addressed criticism that his support for armed citizens constitutes advocacy of vigilantism.

One of his critics, Ron Scott, founder of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, didn't like the use of Craig's language identifying "good" versus "bad" citizens, which he believes creates unnecessary divisiveness.

Scott also condemned what he believes are situations in which police come to conclusions of self-defense prematurely and publicly before completion of a full investigation.

Detroit police on Thursday said a homeowner exchanged gunfire with three individuals who tried to break into his home. A getaway driver was fatally shot.

As of last week, based on information provided to MLive by the Detroit Police Department, Police have recorded 10 justifiable shootings resulting in the deaths of eight suspected criminals.

Craig addressed some of the criticism he's heard at Thursday's Detroit Police Commission meeting: