WATERFORD TWP., Mich. (WWJ) – A coalition of Metro Detroit law enforcement, state legislators and other elected officials are showing solidarity in the face of sharp criticism of police nationwide.
In the wake of several high-profile officer-involved shootings and deaths, prominently the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, many across the country have called to “defund the police,” sparking conversations about the future of law enforcement.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who served as the county’s sheriff for nearly a decade prior to being elected executive, said during Monday’s conference at Waterford Township Hall there are good police – especially right here in Metro Detroit.
“That’s not the answer,” Hackel said of talks to “defund the police.”
“I don’t know anybody at the local level that has even thought about doing that. Not in Michigan,” he said.
Hackel asks why that is even part of the conversation, saying alternatively, the conversations on police reform need to “go back to law enforcement and understanding what can we do, how can we do things better, if and when there’s an incident.”
Monday’s discussions focused on more than just defunding police, hitting on issues of concern for the law enforcement community, as officials say the safety of their officers is at risk in light of negative public perception.
Floyd’s death, as have many other cases, sparked public protests against police brutality, calling for reform, and Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, says the narrative surrounding police in the wake of these events is wrong.
“It’s so disheartening to me in recent years to see how some interest groups use the actions of a very, very small number of these public servants to cast shadow over the entire profession,” Johnson said. “The narrative that’s being promoted by extremists with calls to defund the police threatens the safety of our communities and encourages, particularly, our younger generation to openly disrespect professionals.”
Other issues affecting public safety discussed during Monday’s conference include officer discouragement and the lack of desire to enter the profession by potential recruits, limited resources, lack of warrant enforcement, low or no bail for violent offenders, lack of sentencing uniformity for violent and habitual offenders and more.
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