DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit Police Chief James White says the department is looking to new technology to root out long standing issues of corruption when it comes to the towing contracts in the city.
In the midst of a federal investigation that has targeted multiple police officers and members of Detroit City Council, White says they will be seeking a software solution to the issue, including a customer-facing towing app to “remove the human element from awarding contracts.”
Last week a retired Detroit police officer was hit with bribery charges, becoming the fourth person charged in the scandal as the FBI looks into Detroit City Hall, the police department and towing companies.
Former City Councilman Andre Spivey was the first to be convicted in the scheme after pleading guilty to taking more than $35,000 in bribes. Federal investigators raided his home and office back in August.
Chief White, during a Tuesday press conference targeting corruption within the department on two fronts -- also addressing an internal probe into the department’s drug and major violators units -- said the city is exploring options of taking out the possibility of human corruption when it comes to contracts.
“A citizen will have the ability to download the app on their phone,” White said Tuesday. “If they are requesting a tow, they will know on the front-end who’s coming, how much the costs are, so there’s no intervening or intervention by any person or persons to change who the tower is.”
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Officials have proposed reform by making towing companies bid on police contracts, like any other city contractor, rather than the old way of operating through permits obtained from the Board of Police Commissioners.
It was not immediately clear how much the reforms would cost the city.
Detroit City Council would be required to approve the purchase of the software White wants to implement.
In addition to addressing towing corruption during Tuesday’s press conference, White also announced the department has concluded Operation Clean Sweep, an internal probe targeting the department’s drug and major violations units.
The probe resulted in 12 members leaving DPD, and at least nine warrants that are still under review by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Wearing a badge, it’s not a right, it’s a privilege,” White said during a press conference Tuesday. “And to engage in the privilege of wearing this badge, you must conduct yourself with the utmost respect, character and certainly understanding that if we erode our reputation with this community, it’ll be almost impossible to get it back.”
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