Students at Dixon Educational Learning Academy can pretty much sum up why community programs involving Detroit police work well.
Eighth grader Marlena Brantley has been involved with Detroit City Camp for weeks. She told 7 Action News before that, she had a bad perception of police.
“But as I got to know the police who work with us, I really have positive input on police because they were so nice and so generous and they are helping us to become a better person.”
It is these types of programs that have captured the attention of law enforcement in Beirut, Lebanon and Tuesday, members of the Beirut Police Department got a look at how Detroit Police officers do it.
“They could have gone anywhere,” said Chief James Craig. “They could have gone to Los Angeles, but they came to Detroit. I’ve often times said Detroit is different. We do have good working relations in our community.”
Members of the Beirut Police Department will be spending three days with DPD, exchanging ideas on community policing. They will also ride along with officers and learn more about programs like Project Green Light, which is a cooperative partnership between city businesses and police, where they install cameras to keep an eye on potential crime.
“We saw our colleagues here, how they are working, how they are visiting the schools, how they are interacting with the community,” said Colonel Elie Al Asmar.
“And what they are doing is a great job, the way they are interacting with them, with the society, with kids - especially with kids,” said Lt. Elsy El Hajj.
The visiting members of law enforcement will spend three days with DPD before visiting other police departments in Dearborn and Saginaw.
