DETROIT — The City of Detroit faced another internal setback this week, after an announcement that two local police officers were arrested, in connection with an alleged assault and robbery in the City.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig spoke to reporters on Monday about the two veteran police officers, one from Detroit and the other from the St. Clair Shores Police Department, who committed crimes after arriving at a gas station on Detroit’s east side on July 21, while they were off-duty. 

Detroit Police Chief James Craig spoke to reporters on Monday about the two veteran police officers, one from Detroit and the other from the St. Clair Shores Police Department, who committed crimes after arriving at a gas station on Detroit’s east side on July 21, while they were off-duty.

Wearing plain clothes, with their badges visible, the two officers detained two individuals in their early 20’s and proceeded to assault and rob them. A cell phone and money were stolen from the two victims.

The two victims believed that they had been held up by criminals impersonating cops. A Detroit investigator, who saw a photograph of the incident taken by a citizen, recognized the Detroit officer in the photograph. Another complainant was also able to recognize the St. Clair Shores officer.

“Allegations of improper conduct lodged against our members are taken seriously and are always seriously investigated,” Chief Craig said. “The actions of a few should not detract from the thousands of diligent, hardworking men and women who wear this uniform and serve the citizens of Detroit.”

One of the officers was a sergeant, who has been with the Detroit Police Department for 20 years, while the other has been with the St. Clair Shores Police Department for 17 years. The two appeared to have met when they started in the same police academy class. While the names of the two officers have not been released, they were both arrested last Sunday, but have not yet been charged.

As of now, it is unclear if the two officers were involved in any other recent crimes. There have been multiple reports, this year, of criminals posing as officers from local police departments that include Detroit Police and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.