Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom has been diligently spotlighting the headway his department has achieved in the last three years. As reported by FOX 17, Winstrom emphasized a comprehensive transformation in department culture, training, and procedures since he assumed leadership. This overhaul is especially crucial in the wake of the controversial case involving the death of Patrick Lyoya, which left the community seeking answers and the department in deep introspection about its practices.
Addressing city commissioners, Winstrom stated that trust and a reduction in violent crime, particularly among youth, are indicators of progress under his direction. According to an interview with FOX 17, Winstrom's focus has been to quickly implement changes such as dual-officer car patrols at night and adopting a 'Sanctity of Life' principle in use-of-force policies. Despite the recent litany of officer-involved shootings, Winstrom credits his policy adjustments and the staff's mindset shift for the improvements seen so far.
"Everything's changed at GRPD," Winstrom told FOX 17, highlighting the shift away from hiring solely based on resumes overflowing with criminal justice experience to focusing on recruits with commendable character. Changes to the psychological screening process are now aimed to screen for bias and violence propensity. Moreover, under Winstrom's vision, the department increased its officer count, aiming to reach 300 on staff by fall and intensifying recruitment at historically Black colleges and military bases.
A significant component of the department's current model of policing involves co-response teams, which integrate social workers and police officers to collaboratively respond to mental health-related incidents. Winstrom expressed to FOX 17 his belief in the initiative as a potential national model, emphasizing its innovative nature compared to practices from two and a half decades earlier. Inquiries into an executive order regarding the unhoused population are ongoing, with no anticipated changes in the department's approach to these situations.
Throughout Winstrom's tenure, the GRPD has also seen advancements in technology and service, like the addition of 911 text messaging capacities and drone surveillance, as noted by WOODTV. These initiatives play a role in Winstrom's broader plan for safety and operational efficacy, especially with new downtown developments like the amphitheater and soccer stadium on the horizon. As Winstrom told WGVUNews, "We haven't done everything we've set out to do but we're heading in the right direction."
