A veteran Detroit police lieutenant is going public with what she says is a long-running overtime racket inside the department, claiming the tab for taxpayers hits the “millions” every year.
Lt. Lori Pierce says she has spent months documenting what she calls a pattern of overtime abuse, describing the problem as systemic and urging an independent review of how the Detroit Police Department tracks time and signs off on extra hours.
In a video interview, Pierce lays out what she describes as repeated examples of questionable overtime assignments and approvals, and estimates the combined cost at “millions” annually, as reported by The Detroit News. The segment features her on-camera account, along with details she says support her allegations.
Pierce's lawsuit and whistleblower history
This is not Pierce’s first formal clash with department leadership. Public filings show she lodged a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department and several officials on March 8, 2024. The case is part of a broader dispute between the lieutenant and top brass, according to court records.
Oversight has flagged overtime problems before
Overtime pay has already drawn scrutiny at City Hall. An investigation by the City of Detroit's Office of Inspector General in 2023–2024 documented concerns about unauthorized overtime payouts and the improper administrative closure of complaint files. The watchdog’s report called for policy changes, retraining and tighter controls on overtime approval and recordkeeping in order to shore up weak points in public-safety payroll practices, according to the Office of Inspector General report.
Legal implications
If outside auditors or investigators substantiate Pierce's latest claims, the fallout could range from internal discipline and civil lawsuits to referrals for criminal review, depending on what is uncovered in payroll records. Her existing federal case already places employment and retaliation issues before a judge and has moved the dispute out of informal channels and into active litigation, per court records.
What this could mean for Detroiters
Beyond individual careers, the fight lands squarely in the middle of Detroit’s budget and trust equation. Overtime is one of the most visible lines in any city payroll, and allegations of improper payments often trigger demands from elected officials and watchdogs for audits and stricter controls. For residents, the central questions are whether the city will tighten its payroll systems and whether public funds were improperly diverted.
Pierce says she has compiled documentation that she believes will back up her allegations, and her full on-camera account appears in the Detroit News report cited above. She is calling for an independent review and says she intends to push for a formal audit of department overtime practices as the next step.
