In episode 2, a headline from The Detroit News (a real Detroit newspaper) is shown, with the paper's actual header. However in a later episode a reporter for The Detroit Post appears, which is fake.
The University of Detroit-Mercy and Wayne State University are real schools in Detroit, while Southeastern Michigan University, Lindbergh University and Newhouse College are fake.
"1-8-7" is the Los Angeles police code for murder or death. Detroit police do not have a code for murder or death.
Detroit's real ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV is shown several times through the series, in the form of newscasts, press conferences, and news vans at crime scenes. All of the other TV stations shown are fake.
Both D.J. Cotrona (Detective John Stone) and Natalie Martinez (Detective Ariana Sanchez) appear in Une nuit en enfer (2014) as Seth Gecko and Amaru, respectfully.