DEARBORN — It’s been a tough few months for the Dearborn Police Department. 

On top of criticism over the fatal shootings of two African American residents—currently under investigation by Michigan State Police and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office— the department is also facing backlash from the Arab American community for the lack of diversity on its police force. 

The Dearborn Police Department held a press conference on Thursday, April 28, to announce that it will be collaborating with the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance on their policies and training in an effort to strengthen community relations.

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), an office under the Department of Justice, will be working with Dearborn Police this year.

COPS works with numerous police departments on the national level when an emergency response is needed. Since 1995, the agency has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 127,000 officers.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade joined Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad and COPS official Noble Wray to make the announcement. 

According to McQuade, it was Haddad who reached out to the agency following extensive criticism of the police department after the two fatal shootings. 

“Two shootings in 33 days is cause for concern,” McQuade said. “So he reached out to the COPS office to get some help.”

She added that the U.S. Attorney’s office has not reviewed the Dearborn Police Department’s policies and practices and would only step in if her office received a string of complaints.

Wray said COPS is currently working with departments in Minneapolis, New Orleans, San Bernardino and Tampa. 

He said the agency will help improve the department in four key areas: Use of force; recruitment strategies geared toward diversity; conducting implicit bias training and procedural justice training and implementing President Obama’s 21st century policing task force.

“We believe that this is the best response here in Dearborn,” Wray said. “We are really confident in this department and Chief Haddad and that we will have full partners, moving forward.” 

Wray added that COPS will be enlisting subject matter experts from across the country and technical assistance will be contracted to coordinate the efforts. He added that the timeline of the collaboration could take up to a year. 

Haddad addressed concerns from the Arab American community that the department has not employed enough Arab-speaking officers. 

He said that the department has 16 Arab officers, out of 186 total. He also said 14 African American officers are employed with the department. 

“The more the department reflects the community, both that come here or live here, the better,” Haddad said. “I believe in a diverse police department. I think it impacts officers’ safety and public trust alike. As much as we can reflect our community, I think it’s the right thing to do.” 

Haddad also addressed a report published by The Arab American News that stated Arab-speaking officers were leaving the police force because they were treated poorly in the department. 

“That would be nothing I would tolerate,” Haddad said, noting that he hasn’t received complaints from any of the former officers.

Haddad also rejected concerns of a lack of transparency within the police department. He said he believes the department has developed a trustworthy relationship with the community, despite landing in hot water with both the African American and Arab American community in recent months.

“I think we keep the public well informed about major incidents in our city,” Haddad said. “I think we enjoy a very trusting and positive relationship with all of our residents. I think for the most part…people in southeastern Michigan are not shy about complaining. We have to measure what type of complaints we get and we are very transparent.” 

In a recent interview with The Arab American News, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said her office is currently reviewing the case of Kevin Matthew, one of the two African Americans who was fatally shot by a Dearborn police officer.

She said her office will be making an announcement about the investigation in coming weeks.