New Books in Critical Theory Michael Stauch, "Wildcat of the Streets: Detroit in the Age of Community Policing" (U Pennsylvania Press, 2025)
Jul 28, 2025
Michael Stauch, an Associate Professor at the University of Toledo, digs into the complexities of community policing in Detroit during Mayor Coleman Young's era. He discusses how racial inequality and police brutality persisted despite reforms. Stauch highlights the rise of Black youth activism, drawing parallels to labor movements, showcasing their struggle for equality. The conversation sheds light on the impact of grassroots initiatives on policing practices and explores contemporary relevance in the context of ongoing social movements.
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Wildcat Strikes Inspire Street Rebellion
- Detroit in the 1970s was a hotbed of wildcat strikes that spilled into street life and youth rebellion.
- Community policing under Coleman Young promised reform but also intensified policing against Black youth in poor neighborhoods.
Community Policing's Early Roots
- Community policing ideas originated well before the 1990s, evolving from 1960s civil rights activism.
- Early reforms sought to make police racially representative and accountable while ending brutal, distant policing.
Detroit as Community Policing Laboratory
- Detroit was the most comprehensive site of community policing reforms under Mayor Coleman Young.
- Broken Windows policing and community policing emerged from similar reforms with overlapping philosophies.
