By Jim Irwin, The Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) -- The resignations of two top police officials signal the beginning of a fundamental reorganization of the troubled department, Chief Ella Bully-Cummings said Tuesday.
Deputy Chief James Barren, head of the department’s Western Operations, and Cmdr. Charles Barbieri, head of the 5th Precinct, were relieved of their duties Monday and offered positions as lieutenants but chose to resign, Bully-Cummings said.
The chief said her decision was based on job performance. She declined to give details, saying, “I don’t think that would be fair because it’s a personnel decision.”
It was Bully-Cummings’ first major staff change since she took over as chief in November. She said more changes at the senior level of the department would be made shortly.
“I will do a continual assessment and take appropriate steps if there are people who are not meeting the challenge,” she said. “I think any chief of police is entitled to have their team in place who will move their agenda forward.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out -- it is disingenuous of any command officer to say they don’t know what is expected,” she said. “They know that we have to reduce crime. They know what the crime level is within their respective precincts.
Barbieri, a 34-year veteran, said he suspects he was demoted because of his support of 19 officers formerly under his command at the 4th Precinct, who were indicted by a federal grand jury for abusing and stealing from suspects.
Eight of the officers were acquitted in May. Three pleaded guilty in exchange for leniency, and charges were dropped against one. Seven face trial later this year.
Barren, whose Western Operations unit included all west-side precincts, also spent more than 30 years on the police force. He said he was surprised by Bully-Cummings’ action.
The police department has been operating since June 2003 under two consent decrees -- court-enforceable agreements with the Justice Department -- that mandated changes in how it trains officers, uses force and houses prisoners. Federal authorities found deficiencies in those areas during a 30-month investigation.
“No other chief of police has had to lead this department while operating under two consent decrees,” Bully-Cummings said. “We’re going to ensure we can change the way this city is perceived from a public safety perspective. ... this police department will participate in turning this city around.”