MEDIA ADVISORY

What: The Forum on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS) at Wayne State University will present City Under Siege: A University Forum on the Crime Crisis in Detroit. The two-day symposium explores the concept of community policing as a strategy for reducing crime in urban areas such as Detroit.

The program will feature a variety of speakers and panelists including:

•    William J. Bratton (Sept. 21 keynote speaker)
Author, Former Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
and former Commissioner,  Boston and New York City Police Departments

•    Andrew Arena
Executive Director, Detroit Crime Commission; former special agent, FBI, Detroit Division

•    Ralph Godbee
Chief, Detroit Police Department

•    Anthony Holt
Chief, Wayne State University Police Department

•    George Kelling
Sr. Fellow, Manhattan Institute

•    Kirk Lewis
Chief of Staff, City of Detroit

•    Barbara McQuade
United States Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan

•    Kym L. Worthy
Wayne County Prosecutor

When:  Sept. 20 and 21, 2012

Where:  Community Arts Auditorium, Wayne State University main campus

More info: Detroit’s future hinges in large part on whether or not we can solve our crime problem. For too long, Detroit’s image has been one synonymous with crime. More than once, our city has topped the list of the most dangerous cities in America. Staggering poverty, widespread unemployment and a failing school system have so far exacerbated Detroit’s crime epidemic. And with our unparalleled budget crisis, hundreds fewer city police officers may be available to protect Detroit’s more than 700,000 citizens. It very well may be that our city can go no further until we find a way for residents, visitors and investors to feel safer - and actually be safer.
 
Topic highlights include:

A City in Crisis
Kirk Lewis, Chief of Staff, City of Detroit
Kirk Lewis discusses Detroit's crime epidemic and outlines the city's vision for reducing crime.

Crime from a Police Chief’s Perspective
Ralph Godbee, Chief, Detroit Police Department
Chief Godbee discusses Detroit’s crime dilemma and outlines the steps necessary to reverse the tide of crime.

The “Broken Windows” Approach to Community Policing
George Kelling, Sr. Fellow, Manhattan Institute
National policy expert discusses the dynamics of Detroit’s crime dilemma, including root causes, the impact on communities, as well as alternative approaches to crime reduction.  

The Wheels of Justice
Kym L. Worthy, Wayne County Proscutor
Court officer sheds light on the challenges that court systems face in their attempts to administer effective justice, gives vision for the court system’s role in a community-based crime prevention strategy and explains underlying issues related to criminal behavior.

It Takes a Village
Barbara McQuade, US Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan
US Attorney McQuade talks about the US Department of Justice's commitment to using every available resource to affect a turnaround in Detroit.

Tales of the City: The Role of Media in Reporting Crime
Moderator and panelists to be named
Representatives from various media outlets consider the role of media in reporting crime in Detroit. Discussion moderator probes whether the media’s portrayal of Detroit’s crime situation is harmful or helpful.

Turnaround! Reversing the Crime Epidemic
William J. Bratton, former Chief of Police, Los Angeles Police Department; former Police Commissioner, New York City, Boston
Mr. Bratton gives an outspoken account of how his cutting-edge policing strategies brought about historic reductions in crime in several cities.

Ending the Siege: Town hall dialogue on moving forward
Moderator and panelists to be named
Select panelists and presenters engage audience members in a discussion on how citizens and city leaders can work together to make Detroit’s streets safer.

City Under Siege: A University Forum on the Crime Crisis in Detroit is coordinated by Wayne State’s Forum on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS) and the Eugene Applebaum Chair in Community Engagement. President Emeritus Irvin D. Reid is the inaugural holder of the Applebaum Chair, director of FOCIS and a principal organizer of the symposium.  Please visit focis.wayne.edu for more information.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.