City Of Grand Rapids: Three Candidates Named In Search For Grand Rapids' Next Police Chief

Press release from the City of Grand Rapids:

January 12, 2022

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – City Manager Mark Washington this morning announced the candidates in the search for Grand Rapids’ next police chief. They are Battle Creek Chief of Police Jim Blocker, retired Milwaukee Police Inspector Jutiki Jackson and Chicago Police Commander Eric Winstrom.

The community is invited to meet the three candidates during a public forum 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 in the 9th Floor City Commission Chambers in City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. The event will also be cablecast on Comcast Channel 26 and streamed live on the City’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The candidates will provide brief remarks and answer questions provided from the community. Those questions may be asked in-person at the event, via the livestream chat on Facebook or YouTube, or submitted in advance HERE by 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Those without internet access can submit their questions in advance via 311 or 616-456-3000. Spanish-language interpretation services will be provided during the forum for those attending in person.

Here’s a look at the finalists:

Jim Blocker, Chief of Police – Battle Creek, Mich.

Chief Blocker is the 18th Chief of Police for the Battle Creek Police Department. Chief Blocker served within the Battle Creek Police Department for 25 years in various capacities: patrol officer, community police officer, member of the SWAT team, detective and executive officer. He also serves on the Michigan Governor’s Mental Health Diversion Council, past Vice-Chair of Summit Point Board, Executive Board Chair of Battle Creek Y Family Center, the Grace Health Board, Paul Harris Fellow, and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Commission. In addition, Chief Blocker retains the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, serving in the Michigan Army National Guard, currently assigned as the 210th Military Police Battalion Commanding Officer. He has had multiple tours of duty serving in; South America, Egypt, Latvia, and two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the NATO ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. Chief Blocker earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Western Michigan University, a bachelors from Cornerstone College and is a graduate of several US Army command courses. Chief Blocker is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum's (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police. Additionally, Chief Blocker is an Executive Follow at the Police Foundation in Washington, DC.

Jutiki Jackson, Police Inspector (ret.) – Milwaukee, Wis.

Jackson had a 26-year policing career with the Milwaukee Police Department, leading teams and successfully engaging a very diverse community. Jackson spent ten years as a police officer before being promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, and then captain as a 7th District Commander. Jackson was promoted to inspector in 2016 and became a member of the police chief’s executive command team. He was initially assigned as the night executive in charge, overseeing all non-business hour operations, including weekends and holidays. Jackson then transitioned to the administration bureau, where he oversaw all administrative functions of the department. Before transitioning to the private sector, his last assignment was in the patrol bureau. He provided executive-level oversight to the 1,400 members assigned to seven district stations, the neighborhood task force, and the office of community outreach. In 2019, Jackson joined the National Basketball Association as a security director and currently holds that leadership position. Jackson's desire to make a difference in the community led him to apply for the police chief of Grand Rapids. Jackson earned an Executive MBA and a BA in Leadership Studies at Marquette University. He attended advanced leadership training at Marquette University, the Southern Police Institute and PERF's Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston, Mass.

Eric Winstrom, Police Commander – Chicago, Ill.

Commander Winstrom has served in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) for over twenty years in various patrol, tactical, investigative, and administrative positions. He is currently an executive on the CPD Leadership Team and leads the Area 5 Detective Division where he oversees a staff of 200, including 40 homicide detectives. Geographically, Area 5 covers approximately one-fifth of the City of Chicago including the Northwest Side and O'Hare Airport. His previous assignments include teaching at the Chicago Police Academy, heading CPD's citywide child sex crimes investigation unit, serving as a supervising attorney in the legal affairs division, assisting in the creation of the office of reform management, overseeing policy and procedure for the department, and serving as captain of the 400-person 9th District Station. He holds a BS in Administration of Justice from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School. Commander Winstrom is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and is a court recognized expert on police policy, use of force, criminal investigations, and the Fourth Amendment. Commander Winstrom regularly guest lectures on police issues at DePaul University.

“These finalists have proven senior executive law enforcement experience and reflect the community’s desired qualities,” Washington said. “They are outstanding leaders that have devoted their careers to keeping communities safe while demonstrating a commitment to collaboration, accountability, transparency, and building trust with the community.”

“I look forward to community members meeting the finalists on January 19 and asking questions that are important to them.”

Once the public has a chance to watch and listen to what the police chief candidates have to say at the forum, Washington wants to know what they think of each candidate via a web survey. The survey will go live following the forum and be available for comment through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26. Those without internet access will be able to participate in the survey via 311 or 616-456-3000.

The nationwide recruitment for Grand Rapids’ next police chief began last fall and garnered interest from 35 law enforcement professionals from across the country. Input from 26 different Grand Rapids stakeholder input sessions, four virtual community input forums and a public online survey seeking the attributes and characteristics of the ideal candidate informed the final recruitment profile. Following the December 10 application deadline, Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc. (PSSC) screened individuals who best matched the profile and desired characteristics articulated by the community. Washington then worked with PSSC to review and select the top candidates for this public stage of the selection process.

In addition to the public forum, the three candidates will participate in a series of staff-coordinated interviews during their visit to Grand Rapids. Washington will meet with the candidates, review and consider community feedback about the candidates and then announce his selection in the coming weeks.

This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed here are the author’s own.