The Final Call

Improving ties between law enforcement and community: Detroit to launch model initiative

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(L-R) Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, Min. Ishmael Muhammad, Capt. Dennis Muhammad, Min. Dawud Muhammad, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Nation of Islam Supreme Captain Mustafa Farrakhan in a show of unity during a press conference announcing the partnership between The ENOTA Project, Inc. and the Detroit Police Department. Photo: Andrea Muhammad �By bringing both sides [police and residents] to the table and getting each to recognize their role in the problem and solution, improved relations begin to develop. Improved relations lead to healing in the community.�-Capt. Dennis Muhammad

ENOTA, an acronym for Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority, is a program designed to address the problems that permeate the Black community and its contact with law enforcement, and specializes in improving those relationships. Since its founding, Capt. Dennis has worked with law enforcement in Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester, New York and Lincoln Heights, Ohio.

Both Mayor Kilpatrick and Chief Bully-Cummings see Detroit as ideal to launch such an initiative, given it’s demographics of having both a predominately Black population and police force. The reason Detroit serves as a model is because the training is geared towards cultivating self-love and respect among Black people that, by default, will transfer to the police as well.

“Today the mindset of Black police is that they’re an officer who happens to be Black, as opposed to a Black person who is an officer,” Capt. Dennis pointed out, stating that, “This creates a disconnect between the two. We are dealing with the issue of self-hatred on both sides.”

“By bringing both sides [police and residents] to the table and getting each to recognize their role in the problem and solution, improved relations begin to develop. Improved relations lead to healing in the community,” he said.

Over the next two years, The ENOTA Project will be rolled out in three phases. The first phase is to conduct a “Readiness Assessment.” This assessment will be compiled from a series of town hall meetings where citizens are given the opportunity to voice their concerns with law enforcement.

Phase two is “At One Sensitivity Training.” Under the leadership of Eastern District Deputy Chief Ralph L. Godbee Jr., 300 officers will participate in the program that will provide them with skills to foster better interaction between themselves and the community. Welcoming Capt. Dennis and ENOTA, Deputy Godbee stressed to the officers under his command the initiative will require that officers “Think out of the box,” and share the Mayor’s and Police Chief’s vision of making Detroit a model city.

“We want everyone who comes to Detroit to see that the people of this city care for their police department and their police department cares for them,” Deputy Godbee said.

The third and final phase is to launch “ENOTA Community Sensitivity Training.” Under this training, residents will also be given the tools needed to bridge the gap between them and their local police. Special emphasis in this phase will be placed on the youth through “The Rebuilding Youth Initiative.” Capt. Dennis will work with youth to establish a respect for authority figures (parents, teachers, law enforcement), job training and summer employment. City officials will, in turn, work to open avenues of employment and training for the youth. The goal is to have over 25,000 residents take part in the training over the two year period.

Capt. Dennis says he’s optimistic that The ENOTA Project can help to transform Detroit from once being labeled the “Motor City,” to the “Murder City,” to that of a “Model City.”