GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Chief Eric Winstrom presented his departmental review and recommended policy changes for the Grand Rapids Police Department on Tuesday.
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Chief Winstrom presented his findings and plan at the Grand Rapids City Commission’s Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday morning.
“Our community has been through significant trauma over the last several years with the pandemic, and with the shooting death of Patrick Lyoya. Everyone has felt that. I have heard those who call for defunding or abolition of the Police Department and I have heard from a majority of residents and businesses that desire better police presence. The pathway to change is through the immediate community-informed steps I outlined today and the community-engaged steps for ongoing change and reform that will come through our strategic planning process,” said Winstrom.
Check out the PowerPoint presentation outlining Chief Winstrom’s departmental review and recommendations below.
2022 07 26 Police Chief Review and Recommendations by WXMI on Scribd
The city of Grand Rapids held a public safety meeting several hours after Winstrom's presentation.
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Meanwhile, the city announced it will hold a Commission Night Out series in an effort to bring back annual meetings in each of the city’s wards.
We’re told these meetings were put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city released the following Commission Night Out schedule, which they say is subject to change:
First Ward: Tuesday, Aug. 23
Third Ward: Tuesday, Sept. 20
Second Ward: Tuesday, Oct. 18
Officials are still working on determining where the meetings will be held.
Each session will be comprised of an organized discussion period at 5:30 p.m. before an official Commission Meeting at 7 p.m., according to the city of Grand Rapids.
We’re told residents will be offered the chance to offer opinions on results presented in the 2022 National Community Survey.
“These sessions will give our residents an opportunity to provide more specific, local perspective on the results of this year’s survey,” says Doug Matthews, assistant city manager. “The ideas and feedback we get can help us refine our plans and efforts in a way that’s most responsive to the needs of our neighborhoods.”
