Warren Evans
Warren Evans, who served as Wayne County Sheriff and Detroit Police Chief before becoming Wayne County Executive, faced several controversies during his career in public service.
Wayne County Sheriff
Detroit Police Chief Tenure and Resignation (2009-2010)
During his tenure as Detroit Police Chief in 2009-2010, Warren Evans implemented an aggressive policing strategy reviving elements of the "STRESS" (Stop the Robberies, Enjoy Safe Streets) program, which had been controversial in Detroit's history during the 1970s. The policy included ordering his Mobile Strike Force to conduct extensive traffic stops in "high-crime areas" for any legal violation, hoping to find unregistered guns.[1] The approach drew criticism from civil rights advocates. The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality reported a 67% increase in weekly complaint calls, and citizen complaints to the Police Commission rose 10% in the second half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.[1] Particularly controversial was a memo from Inspector Eric Jones threatening "WRITTEN progressive discipline" for officers who didn't make enough traffic stops, which critics argued amounted to an illegal quota system.[1]
His resignation came amid multiple controversies: