Mayor, Chief announce strategy to address recent violence at neighborhood block parties

2024
  • Chief White creates new Neighborhood Response Team specifically for Block Party compliance and enforcement, treat 911 calls about illegal Block Party activity as Priority 1 runs
  • Hosts and Property Owners of Illegal Block Parties will be subject to prosecution under Detroit City Code violations for Disturbing the Peace and Disorderly Conduct
  • Mayor and Chief call on residents to report problem block parties early to prevent serious issues

 

Block Party violence strategy pic

 

In response to recent block-party related incidents, the Detroit Police Department will be implementing a multi-layered strategy to address this public safety concern, Chief James White and Mayor Mike Duggan announced today.

“The level of violence resulting from block parties in recent weeks has increased to an unacceptable level that has now turned tragic,” said Mayor Duggan. “Chief White and I have been in constant communication over the past two days, and we have a strategy we both are confident will make sure block parties in the city are held legally and safely.”

Block Party Regulations

Neighborhood parties are legal and do not need a permit if they are confined to the house and the backyard and the music and noise are not unreasonably disturbing the neighbors

Neighborhood parties become illegal if:

  • Cars are parked on the sidewalks, lawns, or on illegally on street
  • Attendees begin loitering in public areas or otherwise or otherwise interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic
  • Music and noise are excessive, which can be at any time, but is enforced more strictly after 10:00 PM
  • Youths unaccompanied by parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult violating curfew:
    1. 15 and under after 10 PM
    2. 17 and under after 11 PM

To address illegal block party activity, the City and DPD will be implementing the following:

  1. Deploy new Neighborhood Response Team. DPD previously created a Park Patrol service that has created an atmosphere of safe enjoyment of city parks. This weekend, DPD will begin deploying a Neighborhood Response Team, with a police car in each precinct dedicated to the early detection of illegal block parties.  The Neighborhood Response Team cars will be supported by a central team of 80 officers who will be called in to prevent threats to neighborhood safety from illegal block parties. These units will be responsible for locating block parties, providing warnings where appropriate, and if necessary, taking enforcement action to have the events shut down.
  2. DPD will now respond to citizen 911 calls for illegal block parties as Priority 1 calls.

Chief White has directed DPD that all 911 calls regarding illegal block party activity will be dispatched as Priority 1 runs.

“We ask for the public’s help in shutting down the illegal block parties in the early stages before problems develop,” said Chief White.  “Anyone who sees an unpermitted block party, or one that is spilling over the front yard or illegally parking on the streets, sidewalks, or lawns, call 911 immediately.  DPD will treat this as a priority 1 call. Please work with us to keep your neighborhoods safe.”

  1. Prosecute Property Owners and Hosts of Illegal Block parties. Many of these large block parties are attended by people coming into Detroit, sometimes from 25-50 miles away. The hosts of these parties are creating unlicensed regional events.

Mayor Duggan has directed the City Law Department to support DPD with the prosecution of homeowners and party hosts for illegal block parties.   Disturbing the Peace and Disorderly Conduct are violations of the Detroit City Code subject to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. 

It is the intent of DPD to give hosts and property owners a warning that their block party is operating illegal and ask them to shut it down. 

  1. Make certain the public knows there is a permit process for legal neighborhood block parties. If your neighborhood would like to host a block party and shut down your street, you can do so by getting a permit from the City of Detroit. To apply for the permit, an applicant must get the signatures of 75% of the neighbors who live on that block. Permitted block parties must shut down by 10 PM. Applications can be found here on the city’s website: https://detroitmi.gov/document/block-party-application-and-guidelines. 

“There are no new words to be said that have not already been said about the availability of guns, the maniacal need to use them to settle disputes no matter who is in the line of fire, and the entitlement to carry them illegally," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "Block parties used to be good, clean fun. But now many of them are venues of death, fear, violence, and destruction. Should we have to regulate them? No. Must we? Absolutely yes. I will have more to say about this particular potential case when a warrant request is brought to my office after a completed investigation.”  

Detroit City Code Provisions on Disturbing the Peace and Disorderly Conduct

(Code 1984, § 61-12-393; Ord. No. 11-05, § 1(61-12-393), eff. 5-28-2005)

Sec. 31-5-1. - Disorderly conduct.

It shall be unlawful for any person to make or assist in making any noise, disturbance, or improper diversion, or any rout or riot, by which the peace and good order of the neighborhood is disturbed.

(Code 1964, § 39-1-7; Code 1984, § 38-5-1; Ord. No. 29-10, § 1(38-5-1), eff. 12-10-2010; Ord. No. 42-16, § 1(38-5-1), eff. 12-22-2016)

State Law reference— Disorderly conduct, MCL 750.167.

  • Sec. 34-5-7. - Disturbing the peace prohibited.

No licensee under this article shall make, or assist in making, any noise, disturbance, or improper diversion or any rout or riot, by which the peace and good order of the neighborhood is disturbed.

(Code 1984, § 41-6-7; Ord. No. 01-13, § 1(41-6-7), eff. 2-5-2013) Cross reference— Offenses against public peace, § 31-5-1 et seq.