But after the 11-year-old boy who received the video-game console discovered it did not work, the station, WXYZ, found itself the subject of sharp criticism.
News Director Bill Carey told Thursday's Detroit News the station was investigating the police department and refused to release any details on the matter.
The newspaper reported the electronics of the Playstation apparently were replaced with what appeared to be a tracking device and a note directing the recipient to contact the station.
Robert Edwards II, the boy who received the unit, returned it to police.
"I think this is totally disgusting - using an innocent, underprivileged child to boost their ratings," Assistant Police Chief Marvin Winkler told the News.
"If they had heard any rumors about police officers keeping the toys donated by citizens they could have called Chief Benny Napoleon. They could have called me, or they could have bypassed both of us and called the Internal Affairs Section.
"They did not have to use an 11-year-old boy as a pawn in trying to catch some police officers in wrongdoing."
The Playstation was dropped off at the police department last week. Police are keeping the unit as evidence.
Ben Burns, the head of the journalism program at Wayne State University, called WXYZ's actions inappropriate.
"It strikes me as not a well-thought-out project, and the station probably owes the police an apology," Burns said.
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