Whitmer Announces Plans For Police Reform

MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced plans for police reform that she said promote racial equity while protests and demonstrations continue across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died last week while in custody of Minneapolis police.

Whitmer announced her support for a series of policy plans for Michigan police reform that call on law enforcement agencies to enhance their training and policies to help create a police culture that treats everyone with dignity and policies.

“The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor were a result of hundreds of years of inequity and institutional racism against Black Americans,” Whitmer said. “Here in Michigan, we are taking action and working together to address the inequities Black Michiganders face every day. That’s why I'm calling on Michigan police departments to strengthen their training and policies to save lives and keep people safe. I am also ready to partner with the Michigan Legislature and law enforcement officials to pass police reform bills into law.”

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Whitmer also voiced support for measures requiring police officers to complete training on implicit bias and de-escalation techniques, and applauded the Senate for taking up Senate Bill 945, which addresses many of these issues.

The governor also urged police agencies to require their officers to intervene when they observe an excessive use of force by another officer, which will save lives and help to keep people safe.

“I strongly support requiring the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards re-examining, recruiting, hiring, training and retention requirements for Michigan’s police officers” said Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. “This examination is not only long overdue but it is absolutely imperative.”

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Steps Whitmer Has Taken

In a news release, Whitmer's office noted several actions the governor has taken, which include:

• Requesting that the Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) provide guidance to law enforcement agencies on continuing education that will help officers keep up with the everchanging landscape of new laws and issues facing the community, including diversity and implicit bias training.
• Encouraging police departments to participate in efforts that are underway on comprehensive reporting on the use of force by police departments.
• Urging law enforcement agencies to implement duty to intervene polices.

• The governor applauded Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren and Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green for their efforts in ensuring their officers intervene when an officer observes another officer doing something inappropriate or illegal.

• Calling on the Legislature to act on SB 945.

• Under Senator Irwin’s bill, SB 945, incoming law enforcement officers would be required by law to go through training on implicit bias, de-escalation techniques, and mental health screenings.

Steps Michigan State Police Have Taken

Michigan State Police Col. Joe Gasper have implemented several measures, including the following:

• Created an Equity and Inclusion Officer position within the department.
• Set a goal to increase the racial minority trooper applicant pool to 25 percent and the female trooper applicant pool to 20 percent, in an effort to diversify the department.
• Established community service trooper positions to institute a community policing concept statewide.
• Posted all non-confidential department policies online to increase transparency.
• Implemented recurring implicit bias training for all enforcement members and assisted in the development and pilot of a nationwide implicit bias training for civilian personnel.
• Generated a public-facing transparency web portal for FOIA requests.
• Revised the department’s pursuit policy to limit the circumstances in which MSP members can engage in a vehicle pursuit.

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