Detroit - The city and its Police Department were in turmoil when John Jansen was sworn in as a Detroit Police officer in December 1967, just months after the bloody riot.
Now, as the 67-year-old Detroit native retires as the longest-serving officer on the force among current members, he said the city and Police Department are mired in one of the toughest periods since the riot, with financial problems forcing officers to choose between making concessions that will result in less money in their pockets, or increasing the chance of the city having an emergency manager take over.
Other problems include fewer officers to patrol the city, and criminals who often outgun the police - something Jansen, whose last day on the job was Friday, didn't have to deal with when he was sworn in 44 years ago.
"There were problems then, and there are problems now," he said. "But we've gotten through all the challenges before, and we'll do it again."
Although the current problems are acute, Jansen said he believes significant progress has been made in crucial areas.
"Immediately after the riot, you could tell there were a lot of hard feelings between the citizens and police," Jansen said. "Even though there's still a divide there, I think that relationship has greatly improved."
The department underwent massive changes in the wake of the riot. More African-American officers and women were hired, which caused some hard feelings, said Jansen, who grew up on Detroit's east side within the boundaries of the Seventh Precinct, where he spent his entire career.
"When I first went to the Seventh, I saw the first female supervisor on the department come in," he said. "A lot of officers didn't like that, and there was a big concern that female officers would end up patrolling."
A few years after he was sworn in, around 1970, he recalled, that's exactly what happened: A woman was assigned to patrol the streets. As it turned out, Jansen was assigned to work with her.
"A lot of the older officers were dead-set against having females patrol; they didn't think it was going to work," he said. "But ... she did a fine job."
There also was some racial animosity as more African-Americans joined, Jansen said.
"There were a couple officers on both sides, black and white, who were resentful," he said. "There was some hostility, but for the most part, we were all able to get along, and realize that we're all police officers, which is what's important."
When he started, officers were issued .38-caliber revolvers.
"We've got better weapons now - .40-caliber (Glocks) - but the criminals have also increased their firepower. Also, the drug problem was there when I first started, but it's gotten a lot worse," he said.
Police Chief Ralph Godbee on Friday called Jansen "a true example of Detroit's finest, who exemplified the characteristics of a dedicated police officer. For almost a half-century, he's served the citizens of Detroit, and worked alongside his brothers and sisters in blue faithfully."
Linda Jansen said she's glad her husband is stepping down, although she said she feels a twinge of sadness as well.
"I used to worry whether he'd make it home in the beginning, especially when he was working midnights," said Linda Jansen, who has been married to John for 42 years. "I wanted to be involved, so I joined the Detroit Police Wives Association (which was later renamed the Detroit Police Family Association). Whenever a police officer was killed in the line of duty, the wives would cook to help feed the officers and honor guard.
"The Detroit Police Department has been a family for both of us."
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Detroit police officer looks back at 44 years of changes to force as he retires
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