After a 15-year quest, the fictional law enforcer RoboCop has finally taken up a permanent post in Detroit. An imposing bronze statue of the iconic cyborg was installed on Wednesday, standing guard over the Motor City's Eastern Market district.
From Silver Screen to Bronze Sentinel
The statue is a formidable presence, measuring 11 feet (3.3 metres) tall and weighing 3,500 pounds (1,587 kilograms). It is now securely bolted to a concrete patio outside the FREE AGE film production company's building. Co-owner Jim Toscano described the immediate public interest, noting that despite a snowstorm and temperatures below -1°C, a steady stream of visitors came to see it just hours after installation. "You can walk right up to and walk all the way around it," Toscano said.
The journey to this moment began decades ago. The original RoboCop film, released in 1987, depicted a dystopian, crime-ridden Detroit saved by a cyborg policeman played by Peter Weller. The film gained a cult following, leading to sequels and a reboot.
A Crowdfunded Dream Finds Its Base
The campaign for a physical tribute appears to have sparked around 2010. It gained traction after a social media user tagged then-Mayor Dave Bing, suggesting a statue would be a "GREAT ambassador for Detroit," much like Philadelphia's Rocky statue. Mayor Bing dismissed the idea, but Detroit residents embraced it.
Through a 2012 Kickstarter campaign, more than 2,700 backers worldwide raised over $67,000 to fund the project. Renowned Detroit sculptor Giorgio Gikas completed the bronze casting in 2017. However, the finished statue then entered a period of limbo, stored away from public view while organisers sought a suitable location.
Plans for it to be hosted by the Michigan Science Centre fell through in 2021 due to pandemic pressures. There was even an offer from Stevens Point, Wisconsin—Peter Weller's hometown—to erect it there. The search ended about three years ago when FREE AGE purchased its Eastern Market building. Toscano initially thought the proposal was a joke but quickly agreed, stating, "It's too unusual, too unique, too cool not to do."
A Symbol for a Changing City
The statue's installation marks a shift in how Detroit views its own narrative. Once sensitive about its reputation for crime, the city has seen violent crime and homicide rates trend downwards for years, now reaching levels not seen since the mid-1960s. Toscano reported no objections from city officials, suggesting a new chapter of civic confidence.
"I think there will be a lot more acceptance," Toscano reflected. "Detroit has come a long way. You put in a little nostalgia and that helps." For the moment, the most fitting line from the film might be RoboCop's classic: "Thank you for your cooperation."
