Detroit Police Officers Association

What Detroit Police Officers Association does

The Detroit Police Officers Association (DPOA) is the exclusive collective bargaining representative and labor union for sworn officers of the Detroit Police Department, headquartered at 1938 E. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. Chartered by the State of Michigan on April 12, 1944 with roots in predecessor organizations dating to 1865 (the Police Benevolent Association), the DPOA provides legal representation, grievance handling, contract negotiation, workplace advocacy, and a portfolio of member benefits. Core membership services include 24/7 on-call executive board support, dedicated attorneys for disciplinary and criminal matters ([email protected]), and representation in officer-involved shooting investigations and use-of-force incidents under Michigan labor law and Act 312 compulsory binding arbitration. Financial benefits for members and their dependents include a $10,000 line-of-duty death benefit, $35,000 group life insurance ($5,000 for dependents), uniform allowance ($850 annually), cleaning allowance ($250 annually), longevity pay (up to 4% of base salary), bonus vacation days for unused sick time, and DROP retirement extensions. Retirees receive a $250/month HRA stipend through the multi-union CDPSU Trust administered by Automated Benefit Services.

Beyond bargaining, DPOA operates a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) Scholarship Fund (established 1997, IRS-approved October 1998) that has issued higher-education awards to children of DPD members since the 1999-2000 academic year, reducing student-loan debt for officer dependents. Affiliate partnerships include the SPECTRUM Advisory Group for law-enforcement-specific insurance (administrative duty, accident, cancer, ICU, hospital indemnity, heart/stroke, life), MassMutual for the deferred compensation 457(b) plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network for health coverage, and event partnerships with the Detroit Tigers and Michigan International Speedway supporting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The organization is funded primarily through recurring member dues, vendor sponsorships (American Roads, Better Made, Budweiser, Greektown Casino, BNY Mellon, Buddy's Pizza, and ~30+ others), and memorabilia sales (challenge coins, tumblers), with member communications handled through the quarterly Tuebor newsletter and the detroitpoa.com website. Governance rests with an elected Executive Board led by President Craig Miller, Vice President Ronald Thomas, Secretary/Treasurer Kenneth Eppenbrock, and Sergeant at Arms Linda Broden, supported by precinct-based stewards and committee representatives.

Name

Detroit Police Officers Association

Legal name

Detroit Police Officers Association

Website

https://detroitpoa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Detroit Police Officers Association is the exclusive collective-bargaining labor union for sworn officers of the Detroit Police Department, providing legal representation, grievance handling, contract negotiation, and member benefits including insurance, retirement-plan administration, and a 501(c)(3) scholarship fund for members' children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The DPOA collects membership dues from police officers. Historical records indicate dues were 75 cents per pay in early 1966, rising to $2.50 by the end of that year, and $14 per month by 1970.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Detroit Police Officers Association is a private labor union that serves as the exclusive collective bargaining representative for sworn officers of the Detroit Police Department. It provides legal representation, grievance handling, contract negotiation, workplace advocacy, and member benefits (including death benefits, group life insurance, longevity pay, uniform allowance, and scholarship programs) funded primarily through membership dues.

Product overview

The Detroit Police Officers Association (DPOA) is a labor union representing Detroit Police Department officers. Rather than a technology product company, DPOA offers a portfolio of member services centered around union representation (legal support, grievance processing, contract negotiation) supplemented by ancillary benefits including the DPOA Scholarship Fund for members' children, the CDPSU Health Reimbursement Arrangement for retired officers, SPECTRUM Advisory Group insurance products, memorabilia sales, and the quarterly Tuebor newsletter publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DPOA Membership Services Core union representation and member services for Detroit Police Department officers, including legal representation, disciplinary and criminal defense support, grievance processing, collective bargaining, and workplace advocacy. Members receive economic benefits such as longevity pay (up to 4% of base salary), uniform allowance ($850/year), cleaning allowance ($250/year), group life insurance ($35,000 plus $5,000 for dependents), $10,000 line-of-duty death benefit, and bonus vacation days.
• DPOA Scholarship Fund
• CDPSU Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• SPECTRUM Advisory Group Insurance Program

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)minorOthersAffiliated organization providing national collective voice for police officers. DPOA is linked as a quick resource for members.
• Police Officers Labor CouncilminorOthersState-level labor council for police officers. Listed as a helpful link for DPOA members.
• Michigan Association of Police OrganizationminorOthersState police organization offering additional member resources and advocacy.
• Detroit Lieutenants and Sergeants AssociationminorOthersRelated union organization for supervisory police personnel.
• Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighter AssociationminorOthersOrganization serving retired public safety personnel. Listed as a related association.
• Michigan State Police Trooper AssociationminorOthersState trooper organization available as a resource link.
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint event partnership for Law Enforcement Night with Detroit Tigers and Michigan International Speedway NASCAR events. DPOA members can purchase tickets with proceeds supporting NLEOMF.
• Spectrum Advisory GroupminorOthersInsurance advisory group offering coverage for administrative duty, accidents, medical/disability, cancer, ICU, hospital indemnity, heart & stroke, and life insurance specifically designed for law enforcement officers.
• Coalition of Detroit Public Safety Unions TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-union trust providing Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) for retired officers. DPOA is one of four participating unions (DPOA, DPLSA, DPCOA, DFFA). Monthly HRA stipend for DPOA retirees is $250.
• Automated Benefit ServicesminorOthersClaims administrator for the CDPSU HRA Plan, handling reimbursement of covered out-of-pocket medical care expenses for eligible retired officers.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network of MichiganminorOthersHealth insurance provider available through DPOA member benefits.
• MassMutualminorOthersProvider of deferred compensation 457(b) plan and other financial services for members.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO): National coalition of police unions and associations, co-founded in 1953 with DPOA's instrumental involvement. Provides national legislative advocacy and a collective voice across member unions; DPOA is listed as an affiliate.
• International Union of Police Associations (IUPA): AFL-CIO-affiliated national union representing police officers across jurisdictions. Comparable collective bargaining and member benefit mission at a national scale, contrasting with DPOA's single-city scope.
• Fraternal Order of Police: The largest national organization representing law enforcement officers. While historically DPOA's predecessor was affiliated as Detroit F.O.P. Lodge 115 (1938-1943), the FOP now serves a broader fraternal and advocacy mission beyond DPOA's narrower bargaining focus.

Direct peers

• Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association: Direct peer union representing Detroit Police Department supervisory personnel (lieutenants and sergeants). Part of the same Coalition of Detroit Public Safety Unions Trust as DPOA and serving a parallel bargaining role for a related but distinct membership cohort.
• Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighter Association: Peer organization serving retired Detroit public safety personnel, listed as a DPOA partner. Addresses retiree benefits, social connection, and advocacy—a distinct constituency but tightly coupled to DPOA's active membership pipeline.
• Detroit Police Command Officers Association: Direct peer union for Detroit Police Department command officers. Also a participant in the Coalition of Detroit Public Safety Unions Trust and operating with the same statutory bargaining framework under Michigan labor law.

Regional players

• Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM): Statewide labor council for Michigan police officers, originally co-founded by DPOA's leadership in 1969. Represents a broader geographic footprint of Michigan police unions and operates as a coordinating body above DPOA's local jurisdiction.
• Michigan State Police Trooper Association: State-level labor organization for Michigan State Police troopers. Comparable mission (collective bargaining and advocacy for sworn officers) but a different statewide agency rather than a municipal department.
• Police Officers Labor Council: Michigan-based labor council for police officers, listed as a DPOA helpful-link partner. Comparable bargaining and advocacy mission for Michigan police unions outside Detroit.
• Michigan Association of Police Organizations: State-level Michigan police organization offering additional member resources and advocacy. Listed as a DPOA partner; operates across multiple Michigan departments similar to POAM but with a distinct organizational identity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/detroit-police-officers-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Detroit Police Officers Association