Detroit Police policies changed in First Amendment settlement with ACLU

MARCH 14, 2012 AT 9:02 PM
Detroit Police policies changed in First Amendment settlement with ACLU
BY GEORGE HUNTER THE DETROIT NEWS


Detroit— The Detroit Police Department has adopted new policies to settle a lawsuit involving two men who claimed they were ticketed after challenging why police officers were wrongfully questioning them.

The 2010 lawsuit was filed in federal court on behalf of the two men by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. The ACLU claimed Detroit Police violated the constitutional rights of the men, who were ticketed and charged with misdemeanors for questioning officers who had approached them.

The men, Ken Anderson and Phil Letten, were ticketed and charged in separate instances with "loitering in a known drug area" and "distributing flyers without a permit," even though neither is against the law, said ACLU attorney Dan Korobkin.

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"These new policies represent a solid step forward for civil liberties in the City of Detroit," Korobkin said in a statement. "Police departments across the state should follow Detroit's lead and institute similar policies to ensure that innocent people aren't harassed when they stand up for their rights. It's not a crime to ask police questions or to criticize their actions."


Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120314/METRO01/203140411/1361/Detroit-Police-policies-changed-in-First-Amendment-settlement-with-ACLU