Detroit police ask Sheffield to fund new truck traffic unit

March 4, 2026

The Detroit Police Department is requesting $1. 9 million to establish a specialized enforcement unit with six officers dedicated to monitoring and regulating commercial truck traffic throughout the city. Officer Drew Battersby projects the unit would generate between $5.

Who is affected

Detroit residents, particularly those in Southwest Detroit (District 6) and District 7
Mayor Mary Sheffield
Detroit City Council members (specifically Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Denzel McCampbell, and others)
Officer Drew Battersby and the Detroit Police Department
City Freight Specialist Augusta Gudeman
Commercial freight truck operators and motor carriers
Residents of neighboring cities (Dearborn, Taylor, Redford, Livonia)
Michigan State Police motor carrier officers

What action is being taken

Officer Drew Battersby is making presentations to Mayor Sheffield and City Council to secure funding
Mayor Sheffield is preparing to release her budget plan on March 9
The city has launched a platform to report trucking issues
Existing truck traffic restrictions are being enforced in Southwest Detroit (residential streets and key corridors)
Citizen complaints about trucks are being received and tracked

Why it matters

This matters because Detroit faces a growing truck traffic problem that degrades roads, endangers residents in neighborhoods, and creates air quality issues from trucks idling overnight. With citizen complaints increasing 90% over five years and residential streets currently averaging 1,000 trucks per day, the lack of adequate enforcement allows ongoing violations of "No Truck" signs and residential parking restrictions. The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge will increase daily truck traffic from 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles and introduce hazardous material trucks that currently bypass Detroit, making enforcement even more critical for public safety and infrastructure protection. The proposed unit could generate significant revenue to repair truck-damaged roads while addressing resident concerns about health, safety, and quality of life.

What's next

Mayor Sheffield will release her proposed budget on March 9 and answer questions at 10 a.m.
City Council will review whether the truck enforcement unit is included in Sheffield's budget recommendation
If not included, Council members will need to find $1.9 million by moving money from other budget areas
BridgeDetroit will cover all budget hearings over the next month in partnership with Detroit Documenters and Outlier Media
Council Member Santiago-Romero hopes the unit will be funded in the proposed budget and become self-sustaining after the first year

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com