Detroit (WWJ) -- Detroit's Police Chief James Barren says he's had a few surprises during his first two-and-a-half months on the job. Nothing he couldn't handle though.
Barren told WWJ's Vickie Thomas there were some internal issues that came up, but he wouldn't elaborate.
Barren calls his appointment "a dream job." "It gives you an opportunity to help people out, and to do things, make a difference, have some impact, and I really want to make the city safer," Barren said.
Barren oversees 3,300 officers and says he treats them the way he would want to be treated.
"I find that the openness helps a great deal because you ask these folks to get out here, put their lives on the line everyday and at least you could give a little of yourself," Barren said.
Barren said he's concerned the city's budget deficit, which is as high as 200 million dollars, could hurt the department, but he anticipates more federal help once President-elect Barack Obama takes offices.
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