GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In a push to improve community relations and be more transparent, the Grand Rapids Police Department said it’s looking to change its mission statement. They want input from the public to shape the GRPD moving forward.
Friday afternoon, police chief David Rahinsky discussed plans for a series of four public meetings in the coming weeks.
From body cameras to doing away with fingerprinting people on the street who aren’t carrying identification, the GRPD said it’s taking another step to strengthen community relations. In light of what’s happening around the country with various law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, the chief said he wants Grand Rapids citizens to know his staff cares about them.
“This is an opportunity to bring people together who may not feel as though they’ve been empowered to have a voice,” Rahinksy said.
The chief said it’s not fluff or lip service, but he said it’s a chance for citizens to help redefine the department’s purpose and guide its decision making. Four community meetings are scheduled, one in each geographic area of the city. The department also created a new email address for citizens to send their ideas: GRPDmissionstatement@grcity.gov
“The fact that this agency is opening itself up to criticism, constructive criticism, inputs, complements on what we do very well and what we can improve upon. We really want solid feedback about what they feel our priorities need to be,” Rahinsky said.
Today’s call for input comes on the heels of GRPD and the city’s decision to equip all patrol vehicles with M-4 service rifles—a move that’s drawn some public scrutiny.
The four public input meetings on the mission statement are as follows:
• West: January 19, 6:00 p.m., Rockford Construction Company, 601 First Street, NW
• South: January 21, 6:00 p.m., LINC, 1167 Madison Avenue, SE
• North: January 27, 7:00 p.m., GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Avenue, NE
• East: January 28, 7:00 p.m., Seymour Christian Church, 840 Alger Street, SE
