GRPD Chief Eric Payne presents draft of 3-year strategic plan to City Commission

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police Department Chief Eric Payne presented the three-year plan to transform policing to the City Commission during its Tuesday meeting. It’s the latest step in the department’s creation of a plan in response to calls for the department to improve its relationship with the community. The plan was informed by past community feedback, studies and input from various external experts. It identifies three priorities: safety, innovation and engagement. Read more about the plan here. “From the very beginning of law enforcement’s existence, it has been understood that the community should determine how it is policed,” Payne said. “I wholeheartedly believe this and am committed to making sure this is the Grand Rapids way.” The department will hold a virtual town hall on the plan 6 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 17 on the GRPD Facebook page. Police will use community feedback to make final changes to the plan. The finalized plan will be presented to the City Commission on Sept. 29. GRPD also has a new metrics dashboard, which tracks accountability, community engagement, crime and criminal charge statistics and staffing.