Detroit leaders are turning up the pressure on the police department and its civilian oversight board to cool the city's detention center as a brutal heat wave bakes the region. After officials said internal logs showed holding areas spiking into the 90s, councilmembers and commissioners demanded records and a concrete repair timetable while advocates warned that the sweltering conditions could jeopardize detainees' health.
Temperature Logs Show Mid-90s Heat Inside Holding Areas
Documents reviewed at a police commission meeting show the Detroit Detention Center kept an hourly internal temperature log on a Smartsheet dashboard and that some readings climbed into the mid-90s. Police commission documents cited a 94°F peak on July 4 and a 95°F spike on July 14, prompting Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell to send a memo requesting the complete hour-by-hour indoor temperature record. Capt. Shelly Eggers told the board the unit typically houses about 80 to 130 people and that the center's official capacity is about 200. Attorneys who have represented detainees said they have long heard complaints that conditions at the center are inhumane, as reported by Detroit Free Press.
DPD Banks On Temporary Fixes While Promising Upgrades
In a statement to Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Police Department said it is "providing portable air coolers" inside the facility, handing out water and bags of ice and circulating air while it works to upgrade ventilation. First Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes told the commission the windows have been closed and portable coolers are operating, and the department said it has "no record of illnesses tied to the heat."
Citywide Heat Response Cranks Up Debate Over Jail Conditions
The detention center dispute is unfolding alongside a broader municipal heat response: Mayor Mary Sheffield issued an executive order in early July directing departments to protect residents and expand cooling-center access as temperatures climbed. Per the City of Detroit, the order prioritizes vulnerable residents and expedites temperature-related repairs at city facilities, a backdrop that has amplified calls for a permanent cooling solution at the detention center.
What Happens Next
Councilmember McCampbell and commissioners have asked for the full temperature logs and a written cooling plan and timeline from DPD, and oversight officials said they will continue pressing for documentation and concrete repairs. Advocates say the records could shape policy or legal steps if the department cannot deliver a lasting fix.
