400 Cameras Coming to Detroit Freeways to Combat Crime
A network of 400 cameras is set to monitor Detroit’s freeways. Its goal is to assist the city’s police in investigating violent crimes and highway shootings. The city council approved a $30 million grant from the state to install and maintain the Freeway Video Feed System Grant. It will cover 68 miles of highways in Detroit, including I-94, I-96, I-75, M-10, and M-8.
The Detroit Police Department (DPD) advocated for the cameras, citing the need for enhanced freeway crime investigations. This is especially true, given that there is an average of over 50 shootings annually in the past three years. The department highlighted the challenges posed by freeway shootings. They say freeway shootings have tripled since before the pandemic, with 60-70% of cases lacking known suspects. The high-speed nature of these incidents makes identifying witnesses and suspects difficult. It also causes issues with evidence recovery and accurate driver descriptions compound the investigative challenges.
Integrating real-time camera connections.
To address this issue, the police initiated Operation Brison in 2021. It’s a collaborative effort involving 30 different law enforcement agencies to reduce freeway violence. The $30 million grant from the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is expected to play a pivotal role in deterring and solving violent crimes on freeways. The funds will be utilized to develop, construct, manage, and operate the freeway video feed system.
In 2016, the Detroit Police Department (DPD) collaborated with eight gas stations, integrating real-time camera connections with the police headquarters. This marked a pioneering collaboration among local businesses, the City of Detroit, and community groups known as “Project Green Light Detroit.” The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance the DPD’s endeavors in deterring, identifying, and solving crimes.
The proposed system involves placing cameras at 200 locations, with two cameras at each spot. This was alongside a network of license plate readers for capturing plate and vehicle information. This includes automated alerts for wanted vehicles. The strategic placement of cameras at key locations like interchanges, city limits, and exit and entrance ramps is intended to optimize coverage. The system is anticipated to be operational by late 2025.
Michigan Is One Of The Angriest States In America
10. Michigan
Michigan ranked number 10 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 33.08. Though Michigan’s fatalities caused by road rage is only 0.1 percent, its hate crimes per capita is at 7.7 percent.
9. Massachusetts
Massachusetts ranked number 9 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 37.39. Toxic internet comments were a part of the study and this state scored high with 6.8 percent. Massachusetts hate crimes per capita is at 5.63. Lower than Michigan’s in the number 10 spot.
8. New Jersey
New Jersey ranked number 8 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 42.83 percent. New Jersey also made it onto Alcohol.org’s angriest states list.
7. Connecticut
Connecticut ranked number 7 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 43.08 percent. The state has 5.7 percent of fatalities caused by road rage with a low road rage fatalities per capita at 0.4 percent.
6. Washington
Washington ranked number 6 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 46.90 percent. They also served up a high toxic internet comments percentage of 6.8 according to the Best Life study.
5. Vermont
Vermont ranked number 5 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 55.34 percent. Though the fatalities caused by road rage are at zero percent. The state is at 5.29 percent hate crimes per capita.
4. Indiana
Indiana ranked number 4 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 64.20. The state also came in with high percentages with fatalities caused by road rage at 10 percent and hate crimes per capita at 1.11 percent.
3. South Carolina
South Carolina ranked number 3 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 70.42 percent. The state’s high toxic internet comments percentage was at 9.8 percent according to the Best Life study.
2. Colorado
Colorado ranked number 2 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 70.42. Their road rage per capita is low at 0.9 percent. However, the study shows that fatalities caused by road rage in Colorado are at 9.5%.
1. Alabama
Alabama ranked number 1 on Best Life’s Angriest States in America list with an anger index score of 100. The only 100 anger index score on the list. At the time of the study Alabama had limited data on hate crimes per capita.
