Whitmer Proposes Additional Police Reforms For Michigan

MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday proposed additional police reform policies she said will help strengthen police-community relations and ensure Michiganders are treated with dignity and respect.

Whitmer released a four-pronged plan she said will make significant reforms in policy, personnel, community engagement and accountability to address racial disparities in how law enforcement is applied toward people of color.

“All Michiganders, no matter their community or the color of their skin, deserve equal treatment under the law,” Whitmer said. “This proposal will help us ensure that law enforcement officials treat all Michiganders with humanity and respect, and will help us keep our communities safe. I will continue working with leaders in law enforcement to make public safety more just and equitable in Michigan.”

Whitmer recently added four seats to The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), including the Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, to bring more community voices to the table as the commission considers police reforms for Michigan.

The governor also requested that MCOLES provide guidance to law enforcement agencies on continuing education that will help officers keep up with new laws and issues facing the community, including diversity and implicit bias training.

Whitmer's office said the governor has encouraged police departments to participate in efforts that are underway on comprehensive reporting on the use of force by police departments and urged law enforcement agencies to implement duty to intervene policies.

"These proposed reforms will continue to put Michigan ahead of the nation in setting standards for professional police conduct that leads to trust between police officers and the communities they serve," said Lt. Mark Young, President of the Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association. "Good police officers accept accountability as they risk their lives everyday to protect Michigan's citizens."

The governor's proposed reforms are listed below:

Policy

The Whitmer Administration said it supports legislation that makes the following reforms to law enforcement policies:

• Ban chokeholds/windpipe blockage.

• Further limit the use of no-knock warrants.
• Require "duty to intervene" policies.
• Classify false, racially-motivated 911 calls as a hate crime.
• Require in-service training for all licensed law enforcement officers to maintain licensure.
• Authorize MCOLES to do the following:

• Audit law enforcement agencies to ensure they are accurately reporting violations of law or improper use of force.
• Establish penalties for agencies who don’t comply with reporting.
• Direct the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mental Health Diversion Council to make recommendations on best practices and training for police departments when responding to situations involving persons with mental illnesses.

Personnel

The Whitmer Administration said it will work with leaders in law enforcement to make the following reforms to build a more empathetic police force:

• Provide incentive programs for law enforcement agencies to hire/retain officers who live where they work.
• Require retention of disciplinary records resulting from violations of law or improper use of force.

Community Engagement

The Whitmer Administration said it will promote the following community engagement strategies to strengthen trust between police officers and the communities they serve:

• Invest in programming in communities around the state that connect local police and community leaders to build relationships.

• Invest in expanding existing community relationship programs to break down barriers between police and communities around the state.

Accountability

The Whitmer Administration said it will support legislation that makes the following reforms to improve transparency and accountability in investigations:

• Require independent investigations of all shootings and use of force that resulted in the death of unarmed civilians at the hands of law enforcement.