Warren's nearly all-white police force to add more blacks, Hispanics

Christina Hall | Detroit Free Press

Warren's nearly all-white police force will gain some more diversity Friday with the swearing in of a dozen new officers including three who are African American and two who are Hispanic, Mayor Jim Fouts said in a news release.

Currently, there are only two African Americans among the department's 203 sworn officers, Police Commissioner William Dwyer said. One of the black officers is not working and suing the city for racial discrimination.

Warren, the third largest city in Michigan, has a population of about 135,000, of which 17.4 percent is black and another 2.2 percent is Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.

Fouts called the hires "a significant diversity commitment to the Warren Police Department." He noted that he has appointed African Americans as fire commissioner, city attorney, communications director and diversity coordinator.

Dwyer said the department has Middle Eastern and Chaldean employees and a significant number of women. He said an animal control officer and a dispatcher, both civilian positions, are African American.

The city and police force have been under fire after a police officer filed a federal lawsuit, alleging racial and sexual mistreatment from co-workers during her time in the force.

Last month, a U.S. district judge ruled that Fouts can be questioned by attorneys in the lawsuit filed by DeSheila Howlett, who started working as a Warren police officer in 2006. She named the city, the former police commissioner and fellow officers as defendants.

In the complaint, Howlett said she was the first black police officer to be employed in the history of Warren and was "constantly peppered with inappropriate, insulting, demeaning, racially stereotypical, offensive comments, jokes, statements, conversations, and other conduct by her similarly-situated white police officers including, but not limited to, supervisors."

She also alleged she was repeatedly not supported with proper backup due to her race and gender. She said became ill and was unable to continue working "in the toxic environment."

Her attorney, Leonard Mungo, has said a lack of training in diversity led to Howlett's constitutional rights being violated.

Earlier this month, Fouts' attorney filed a motion asking the court to file under seal two exhibits: his affidavit and a letter of intent from the city's former diversity coordinator. Howlett has asked the court to deny that motion.

Fouts' attorney has filed a motion to vacate the judge's order and to issue a protective order against the taking of Fouts' deposition, or prohibiting any video-recording of his deposition and sealing all transcripts and recordings taken during his deposition. His deposition is set for August, according to court records.

Fouts has faced several controversies through the years about statements that he either made or was purported to have made that were recorded and released.

The most recent was more than a year ago when audio tapes were released in which a man — purportedly him — was heard disparaging women, African Americans and the mentally disabled. Fouts has adamantly denied making the statements and claimed the tapes were manufactured by his political enemies.

Of the new hires, all are working officers, coming from other police departments, including six from Detroit, in a program in which only certified, employed police officers could apply for the positions, Dwyer said.

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"Our goal is, and was, to hire the best of the best," the police commissioner said, adding that the new officers have 96 years of experience combined at departments including Fraser, Oak Park, Dearborn Heights, Saginaw, Grand Blanc and the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

He said within 48 hours, the department received more than 100 applications. The top 27 were selected after background investigations and interviewed during the several months long process.

City officials said they believe better benefits is one reason for the large number of applicants. Dwyer said the city force offers opportunity for advancement and working in specialized areas.

"It's very difficult to recruit officers today," he said. "All departments in the state are short on officers."

Ten of the new officers will replace retired officers. Two others were added to the 2018-19 budget, according to Fouts' release.

City officials said about 10 other police officers will be promoted and retiring officers will be recognized at the ceremony in Fouts' office.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter. Staff writer Bryce Airgood contributed to this report.