‘Newsmaker of Year’ made sweeping changes in key city department

Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri received a rock star welcome at his swearing-in ceremony last May. He is the city’s first Yemeni-American to be appointed chief.

By Charles Sercombe
After absorbing all the events of last year for the past two weeks, it’s now time to consider the “Newsmaker of the Year.”
And once again, there are a lot of contenders: Wayne County pulling out of its jail agreement with the city, at a cost of $1.4 million to city coffers; the swing toward the Republican Party by a large bloc of voters here; the closing of St. Lad’s; or former president Trump visiting Hamtramck at a campaign office.
You get the drift.
In making this yearly choice, there really aren’t any right or wrong answers, but we’re going with one game-changer that continues to play out.
And that person is … (dramatic pause, please) … Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri coming on board.
His appointment this past year marks a milestone in the city: he’s the first Yemeni-American to fill the position, and, perhaps even more significantly, he was hired from out of state.
In the past, Hamtramck’s Police Department always promoted officers to police chief from within the ranks – never from the outside.
But things in the department have changed in recent years, including the jettison of old ways and customs.
Chief Altaheri came from the New York City Police Department, where he served for 20 years before retiring last year to take his new job in Hamtramck.
His hiring followed the retirement of former Police Chief Anne Moise last year. She, too, was a groundbreaker, having been the first female appointed as chief.
Altaheri emigrated from Yemen when he was 4 years old, and was inspired to police work after the 9/11 attack on New York’s World Trade Center.
Last May, he was officially sworn-in during an outdoor ceremony held in Zussman Park. The event was attended by about 200 people, many of whom came from outside the city.
He was given a rock star welcome here.
At the ceremony, he told those attending:
“I’m really excited to serve this community – this diverse community. … I’m here to serve everyone,” he said.
So far, he’s introduced a number of changes and additions to the department, which, in the past, often had a contentious attitude toward accepting new methods.
For starters, he began meeting with a number of community leaders, and everyday folks as well, to get to know the community and its concerns.
With an easy-going demeanor and a ready grin, the chief has become a one-man public relations department. His presence was an immediate hit among the public, who praised his people skills and genuine concern.

Just ask Susan Briskey, the owner of Suzy’s Bar on Evaline.
“He makes people happy and included,” Briskey said. “He goes beyond the call of duty. When he sees a problem, he takes care of it.”
As part of his ongoing community outreach, Altaheri established a youth academy to help break down the walls between the department and the public.
One concept he introduced to the department, now a staple in most modern departments: using crime mapping to pinpoint where to focus attention.
Along those same lines, Altaheri has been a big proponent of bringing in the latest technology to help with crime fighting, but has sometimes had to butt heads with some city councilmembers to secure funding for those improvements.
He’s still hoping to get funding for a drone to help in chasing down a suspect on the run or for surevellience.
Altaheri has reshaped staffing in the department as well, moving some officers to new duties – again, something that, in the past, would have been challenged by the officers’ union.
And the chief made one even more significant addition to the community: himself, meaning that he moved his family into a house here in Hamtramck.
The last police chief to live in the city was the late Alex Shulhan.
Not only did Altaheri move here, he made a name for himself for being the kind of neighbor we all could only hope for. He noticed his neighbor had a leaky roof, and found out that the homeowner couldn’t afford the cost for a new one.
Altaheri contacted a contractor he knew, and presto, the neighbor received a new roof at no cost.
When asked about it, the chief was humble.
“Sometimes it’s just your words” that make a difference, he said. “Maybe you don’t have the money, but say something; things will happen.”
Asked about his experience so far, Altaheri was succinct in saying:
“It’s been a great experience thus far since my appointment as Chief and as a resident of this amazing city. I have great neighbors, and made new friends and learned so much about the history and people of Hamtramck.”
Short and to the point.
However, asked about his police philosophy and plans for the department, Altaheri talked at length.
It’s a long overview, so settle in. Here’s what he had to say:
“My police philosophy is based on the 4 T’s I call it: Trust, Transparency,Technology,Training.
“These are the four major components I focus on to enhance the Hamtramck Police Department.
“Since my appointment, I created the first Youth Academy — and our first Citizens Academy will start this month. These programs help build trust between the police and community, while creating a space to promoting understanding and sharing knowledge.
“These are ongoing programs that will continue hopefully even when I’m gone. I look forward to the Citizens Academy this month and the second Youth Academy this coming summer.
“We have changed the department’s logo (patch) with an image that truly represents our city. All officers will be wearing their Hamtramck Police Department patches on their uniforms proudly. Uniform and professional appearance is important, and a critical step in enhancing the police department.
“When I first arrived at the Hamtramck Police Department, none of my executive staff knew their crime statistics, including my Detective Commander at the time, which was very disturbing.
“How can you lead investigations without knowing crime data, crime trends patterns within the city? As a veteran of the New York City Police Department, I introduced CompStat — a police management system that uses computer statistics to help reduce crime, and achieve other police department goals.
CompStat involves:
• Keeping a daily digital record of reported crimes
• Reviewing crime trends in weekly meetings
• Emphasizing information-sharing, responsibility, and accountability
• Improving effectiveness, using timely and accurate information or intelligence to rapidly deploy resources
• Using effective tactics, and following up relentlessly

“Thankfully we have witnessed an overall decrease of 10 percent in major crime, with zero homicides, compared to last year, and a decrease in crash incidents and fatalities.
“I am very passionate about ensuring the Hamtramck Police Department is transparent with the community. We have built better relations with the community through social media and more engagement, including assigning Luigi Gjokaj as the Business Relations Supervisor and investigator David Adamczyk as the Public Relations Officer.
“Also, we post our crime stats and have a weekly CompStat review and Chief’s Corner video podcasts, where we talk about public safety and quality of life concerns.
“Technology: we enhanced our Axon system, including the interrogation room. We are still pushing to get a drone, which will help enhance safety in Hamtramck.
“We got more license plate readers in the city, and recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Detroit in sharing video intelligence, to help combat auto theft and other crimes.
“We also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Highland Park and Detroit Police in sharing resources to combat auto crime within our jurisdictions.
“Training: Our officers have received many new training opportunities, including recently training a candidate for the position of Internal Affairs.
“Sgt. Nasser Golla is the first graduate of the Internal Affairs program. He was assigned last month as the Internal Affairs Officer, which oversees corruption and police misconduct cases and allegations.
“Many of the new officers have received diversity training, and I have allowed other training opportunities to be available to them.
“Properly trained officers lead to a more efficient police department.
“There were issues with some supervisors in the Police Department. Some, I had to change their tours, and address some of the deficiencies.
“Some supervisors thought that they could come to work and just collect a pay check without any input. There was a culture or attitude of entitlement that I had to immediately address.
“Some supervisors have been in Hamtramck for over 20 years, and still could not explain to me what their duties and responsibilities were.
“That changed under me. Everyone has a clear understanding of what their job and role is now. Positive change requires commitment and courage. The supervisors need to help me lead that change, and, as a department, we have to be self-critical in order to perpetuate effective change.”
Well, there you have it. The Hamtramck Police Department has been transformed, and, from what we can tell, will continue to adjust with the times.
Posted Jan. 10. 2025