Police transparency expands with new national database - except Michigan

September 18 2024

Launched in September 2024, the National Police Index allows residents from 17 states to access the employment history of police officers, according to the Detroit Metro Times. However, Michigan state police refused to disclose their public records for the Index, leaving Michigan residents in the dark. In response, Detroit Metro Times and the Invisible Institute, a nonprofit newsroom, sued Michigan State Police to obtain said records to track “wandering cops,” officers with histories of misconduct who avoid disciplinary action by moving from one police department to the next. Chris Burbank, CPE consultant and former Salt Lake CIty Police Chief, discusses why the Index is an important tool for transparency and police accountability:  

“This tool will address a shortcoming in law enforcement hiring practices that has plagued our nation for years,” said Chris Burbank, former Salt Lake City Police Chief and current law enforcement consultant with the Center for Policing Equity. “Lacking prior accountability, officers who have been disciplined traverse the country seeking employment, and often, repeat the same poor practice or behavior. I applaud the work in this area and look forward to its success.”

Read the full article on the Detroit Metro Times’ website.