As a mom and former prosecutor, public safety has always been a top priority for me. Michiganders deserve to feel safe as they go to work, drop their kids off at school, or run errands in their neighborhoods. That’s why since day one, I have made historic investments to promote public safety and stop violence in our communities.
Together, we have invested over $1 billion in public safety, sent local governments more resources than they have received in decades to hire and support law enforcement officers, and increased secondary road patrols. These are great accomplishments – but there is always more work to do.
I will keep working with law enforcement officers and bipartisan state and local officials to continue investing in public safety, reduce crime, and prevent gun violence in Michigan.
Let’s keep putting Michiganders first.
Sincerely,
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan
Last week, I announced $30 million in grant scholarships to help local law enforcement agencies hire more police officers. This funding helps cover basic law enforcement training academy costs and recruit salaries for those who are employed by a law enforcement agency and enrolled in an academy session. Under this program, law enforcement agencies are eligible for up to $4,000 per recruit for salaries and benefits and up to $20,000 for academy tuition and other training costs. Applications are now open for agencies who want to enroll recruits in an academy session beginning on or after January 1, 2023.
Nearly one in three reported violent crimes in Michigan involve a firearm, and in the first half of 2022, over 450 Michiganders have lost their lives due to gun violence. Last month, we announced Operation Safe Neighborhoods which aims to reduce gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street and out of the hands of people who cannot legally possess a gun due to prior criminal history. This builds on my MI Safe Communities program from last summer that invests $75 million in local police, and funds expanded opportunities in jobs, education, and the justice system.
I am proud to announce that Operation Safe Neighborhoods has conducted 1,289 check-ins with felony offenders so far, leading to 171 illegal guns taken off the street before they could be used to commit a crime. During sweeps, officers also recovered illegal drugs and ammunition. I am proud of the work this program has done to keep us safe in just one month, and I know moving forward it will be an important part of our public safety efforts.
Besides working to fix the damn roads, we’re also working to improve road safety across the state. I recently signed three bills from the legislature that will increase funding for secondary road patrol by 50%, up from $10 million per year to $15 million per year. This will improve road safety by putting more officers out on patrol, increasing recruitment and retention, and offering more stability for sheriff departments.
I am proud of the bipartisan budget I signed earlier this year that ensures law enforcement at every level, from the Michigan State Police to local departments, have the resources they need to keep people safe.
School districts can use funds from the budget to protect the safety of students, teachers, and staff. Districts have already started using resources to make several school safety investments, including:
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Installing door security systems: providing an extra layer of security during lockdowns and assisting with barricading doors.
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Testing emergency notification systems: ensuring effective lines of communication from every classroom to the main office or law enforcement and public safety officials.
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Establishing school reunification sites: establishing procedures for pickup for all schools in the event of an evacuation.
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Allocating $25 million for School Resource Officers: a specific measure in the budget to help districts across the state hire school resource officers.
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Forming a safety committee: bringing together a broad range of perspectives, thoughts, and ideas including but not limited to parents, teachers, staff, local law enforcement.
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Increasing collaboration with public safety departments: working closely with local law enforcement and strengthening relationships between teachers, staff, students, and public safety officials.
Every kid deserves to feel safe in school so they can stay focused on learning and pursue their potential. I will continue to work with anyone to keep our kids safe and learning in-person.
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