• Historic partnership advances safety and innovation, making Detroit a national model for public safety technology adoption
• Detroit Police and Fire completed a pilot of the technology; three-year contract approved by Detroit City Council
• HAAS Alert opened a Detroit office at Newlab at Michigan Central innovation district in 2024, is committed to serving communities here in Michigan
   

In a groundbreaking move to protect both first responders and the residents they serve, the City of Detroit has become the largest city in the nation to implement the HAAS Alert Safety Cloud® across its public safety fleet, including all Detroit Fire Department (DFD) apparatus and select Detroit Police Department (DPD) vehicles. The three-year contract was unanimously approved by Detroit City Council in July.

The adoption of this new technology follows a successful 10-month pilot program where ten DFD apparatus were equipped with the Safety Cloud. During the DFD pilot, 108,531 alerts were sent to drivers through the system, notifying them of an approaching emergency vehicle.

“Detroit is leading the way in public safety innovation and investing in risk reduction,” said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. “Our emergency response times are now at historic lows — and with HAAS Alert, we now have another tool in our toolbox to help reduce collisions while we respond to calls for service. We’re grateful to City Council for their continued investment in public safety and for helping make this milestone possible.”

Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms tells those gathered the 10-month pilot of HAAS Alert Safety Cloud resulted in over 100,000 alerts sent to drivers on Detroit's streets. 

HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud technology sends real-time digital alerts when a vehicle with activated emergency lights approaches or is near drivers who are utilizing the following systems in their vehicles:

• Waze
• Apple Maps
• Stellantis vehicles, compatible model year 2018 and newer
• Volkswagen vehicles, compatible model year 2024 and newer

For residents who do not drive vehicles where this technology comes standard, the City of Detroit encourages residents to use Waze or Apple Maps – both free – to receive these essential notifications and help reduce the likelihood of accidents with our first responders.

The platform also includes Responder-to-Responder (R2R) features that reduce the risk of emergency vehicle collisions with one another — a vital safety enhancement for both police and fire personnel. DPD piloted this technology on 9 vehicles prior to the contract being approved and plans to expand to some patrol cars assigned to every precinct, as well as additional patrol vehicles assigned to special citywide task forces.

“Detroit Police officers are committed to responding quickly and safely to calls for service,” said Police Chief Todd Bettison. “HAAS Alert’s Responder-to-Responder technology will help ensure our officers are better protected while driving and allow us to coordinate more efficiently during emergencies. It’s a significant upgrade for both our officers and the residents they serve.”

Mayor Mike Duggan previewed the Safety Cloud system several months ago during a demonstration at Newlab at Michigan Central, where HAAS Alert’s Detroit office is housed. Mayor Duggan was enthusiastic about its potential to reduce collisions and improve efficiency.

Deputy Mayor Melia Howard highlights the fact that Detroit is no longer just catching up — it’s leading the way.  “This is a great step toward keeping both our first responders and our residents safe,” said Deputy Mayor Melia Howard. “From piloting new technologies to full-scale deployment, Detroit is showing what a commitment to innovation and equity can look like in public service.”

The decision to implement Safety Cloud citywide is more than just a public safety upgrade and an investment in risk reduction — it’s a testament to Detroit’s growing tech ecosystem. The HAAS Alert technology being deployed was born out of innovation developed right here in the city. “This is exactly what Michigan Central set out to do — to connect local government and communities with emerging technology solutions,” said Justin Onwenu, Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity for Mayor Duggan’s Office. “This is innovation at work for Detroiters, ensuring that what is built here truly benefits every neighborhood.”

“Providing the infrastructure to support the creation and deployment of advanced mobility technologies, here, in Detroit, is core to Michigan Central’s mission,” Carolina Pluszczynski, Chief Operating Officer & Innovation Ecosystem Development for Michigan Central, echoed. “The integration of HAAS Alerts with Detroit’s public safety fleet is an example of real-world solutions coming from our campus and directly benefiting the local community with safer roadways.”

Created by CEO Cory Hohs with co-founders Jigar Patel and Noah Levens, HAAS Alert officially joined Newlab at Michigan Central in 2022 and has since collaborated closely with City departments and the Michigan Central innovation community to optimize Safety Cloud for real-world use in Detroit’s streets.

“This is a huge milestone — not just for HAAS Alert, but for public safety everywhere,” said Cory Hohs, CEO of HAAS Alert. “We are grateful to Newlab at Michigan Central and the City of Detroit for believing in our mission. The city’s commitment to innovation and safety is truly historic.”

In recent years, Detroit’s public safety transformation has been dramatic. Once known for delayed responses and broken equipment, DFD and DPD have turned that narrative around through major capital investments, cross-training programs, data-driven deployment, and cutting-edge technology.

Further integration of Safety Cloud will begin soon, with installations across all DFD response vehicles and select DPD vehicles slated for completion in the coming months. This installation is one way the City of Detroit is working to keep residents and first responders safe and will save Detroit residents money in costly repairs to damaged vehicles.