Grand Rapids Reporter

Grand Rapids has not been excluded from the marches across the nation that call for police reform and some city commissioners are considering reducing the police budget.

Fiscal year 2021's approved budget for the Grand Rapids Police Department is more than $55 million, 38.6% of the city's general fund. By city charter, the department is guaranteed no less than 32% of the city's operating fund.

Second Ward Commissioner Joe Jones is in favor of capping the department's funding at 32%, which would reduce their budget by $9.4 million. 

"I have very much taken on a mindset of wanting to be a part of the re-imagining of our department," Jones told WZZM. "Simply because I know that it is  what's needed for such a time as this."

Jones said that re-imagining the police department could include not having officers respond to calls for substance abuse, domestic violence or mental health, instead relying on a force of professionals better equipped to handle those matters, according to WZZM.

Community organization Linc Up has called for structural changes within the police department, including 3% of the department's budget being diverted to the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA). 

The police department would like to fund three additional full-time employees, one person to work with OPA, one person to serve as a public information officer for the police department and one non-sword chief of staff for the department. The cost of the three positions would amount to nearly half a million dollars. 

First Ward Commissioner Kurt Reppart said this is a chance to reimagine public safety, WZZM reported.

First Ward Commissioner Jon O'Connor told WZZM police officers have to be invested for change to be effective.

"We have a ton of great men and women doing the job every day, and they hold themselves to a high standard," O'Connor told WZZM. "They don't like it when other people make them look bad. I want to make sure that this dialogue  is a two-way street, so that with whatever changes we come up with, there's buy-in from both sides."

Several community groups, including We Are Safe: Bridging the Gap, are calling for the city to defund the police department. More than 1,200 letters have been received calling for the redirection of funds to black and brown communities. LaDonna Norman, an organizer with We Are Safe: Bridging the Gap, said that one year of police funding could provide for housing, food co-ops, business startups and youth summer jobs.

Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi told WZZM local calls for change are in response to systemic racism, not solely in response to the death of George Floyd. 

Third Ward Commissioners Senita Lenear and Nathaniel Moody wanted more information about how changes would be implemented by both the police department and the city.