DETROIT — Civil rights advocates are raising alarms over allegations that Detroit Police Department officers and city officials have been involved in improper eviction practices—sometimes bypassing required court orders.
In one prominent case, Whitney Burney, a Detroit mother of four, filed a federal lawsuit in December 2021 against the City of Detroit, several DPD officers, and her landlord. Burney says her landlord falsely labeled her a “squatter” and enlisted police to forcibly remove her—despite the fact that officers already acknowledged her status as a tenant in a police report.
“Police accepted the landlord’s claim that she was a squatter despite ample evidence to the contrary,” says Joe McGuire, attorney with the Detroit Justice Center.
McGuire described the city’s justification—removing squatters, not evicting tenants—as “playing with semantics,” arguing the pattern represents a broader, systemic issue.
“This is pretty shocking… it’s not a case of just a few bad apples. It’s an ongoing and systemic problem,” McGuire told Michigan Public.
Burney’s case alleges that, in addition to wrongful eviction, police failed to properly verify her tenancy before acting. Moreover, she claims the landlord stole or damaged her property during the eviction. Despite issuing a formal apology and offering limited financial support for the family to relocate, police have not announced any changes to training or policy regarding eviction practices.
DPD’s “Squatters Action Team” Under Fire
In April 2022, a unit within the Detroit Police Department known as the “Squatters Action Team” arrested Detroit resident Jai Kiser — charging him with “occupancy of building without consent” after visiting what he believed to be a rental arranged by a friend. According to reporting by Outlier Media, the property manager involved “didn’t have the authority to rent out the lower unit,” and the team acted without a court-ordered eviction.
Outlier notes:
“Despite saying they don’t participate in evictions, a DPD team is working with landlords to arrest residents instead of relying on court orders.”
Community Response and Legal Efforts
Community groups, including Detroit Eviction Defense and the Detroit Justice Center, have mobilized around these cases. A reported coalition lawsuit filed in 2021 aims to formally prohibit any police role in landlord-initiated evictions.
Joe McGuire also warned landlords to pause reliance on private “squatter removal” services, stating that such practices pose serious harm to families. detroitjustice.org
Calls for Reform and Right-to-Counsel Advocacy
Detroit has since advanced tenant protections, including passage of a Right to Counsel ordinance that guarantees legal representation for renters facing eviction. Supporters argue this measure aims to curtail police involvement in disputes that should be settled through civil courts.
What Detroiters Should Know
- Police doctrine vs. practice: While police maintain they only remove squatters, lawsuit filings and reporting suggest officers have evicted tenants without court involvement.
- No confirmed policy changes: Despite public attention, neither DPD nor Detroit city officials have publicly revised practices or training in response to these incidents.
- Legal recourse increasing: With lawsuits underway and stronger tenant-rights measures in place, affected Detroiters have more avenues for accountability.
Looking Ahead
Detroiters are watching for outcomes from pending litigation, potential policy changes in the Detroit Police Department, and enforcement of Right to Counsel provisions. For now, local advocates urge tenants to document any police interaction related to evictions and consult with legal aid groups such as Detroit Eviction Defense.
Motor City News will continue following developments in the Burney lawsuit, DPD action plans, and broader eviction-related reforms.
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