LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing to use some of the state’s federal COVID-19 relief money to fight a rise in violent crime across the state.
Whitmer on Monday introduced the framework for the MI Safe Communities to reduce violent crime and increase public safety throughout the state, a plan that would call for using $75 million from the American Rescue Plan.
The money would have to be approved by the state legislature.
Michigan received billions of dollars from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan, with Whitmer already directing large portions of those funds towards small businesses, education, child care and health care initiatives.
This latest plan from the governor has three key facets:
-- Investing more money in the police force
-- Getting illegal firearms off the streets
-- Pursuing investments in jobs, justice and education.
Part of Whitmer’s proposal includes investing more money into police departments across the state in order to “strengthen training policies and programs and foster collaboration between the Michigan State Police and local departments on specialty services. “
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She says the extra funds would be used to “pay and support and make sure we get resources into our police officers at every level. That would include our prosecutors, as well -- as very important parts of our criminal justice system.”
As for getting guns off the streets, Whitmer also proposes increasing the number of visiting judges “to tackle the backlog which has piled up during the pandemic, to ensure folks get the due process faster and ensure justice in their community”
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) spoke during Whitmer’s announcement of the MI Safe Communities plan Monday, saying it’s time to help Michiganders feel safer. She says she’s frustrated that fighting violence has become a political issue.
“People are living in their homes, scared to death every day to go about doing things that they used to be able to do safely every day. I am tired of people making us make false choices between public safety and racial justice and criminal justice and social justice. It’s a false choice,” Dingell said.
Whitmer’s proposal also includes “holistic investments to expand opportunity through our education, jobs, and justice system,” her office says in a press release.
“Through a partnership with the Biden Administration, Detroit is one of fifteen jurisdictions nationally boosting investment in Collaborative Community Violence Intervention Programs, which help prevent retaliatory violence. Investment in hospital-based violence intervention programs helps to provide counseling, peer support, mediation, and social services to hospital patients recovering from violent injuries and prevent further violence and injuries.”
Whitmer’s plan looks to mesh with groundwork her administration and the legislature have worked together on to put Michigan students first, as her office says “early investments in mental and social health help reduce crime in the long run.”
Earlier this year Whitmer announced plans to invest a significant amount of federal funds into the state’s education system.
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The three-pronged approach to improving the police force and making Michigan’s communities safer was put into motion because “there’s not just a silver bullet that immediately fixes the issue,” Whitmer said.
“There are many different aspects to us being successful, that’s why we’ve convened conversations with law enforcement, as well as prosecutors, as well as advocacy organizations, as well as educators, academic leaders. This is something where we have to look holistically,” Whitmer said.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan praised Whitmer's plan, saying “Detroit and cities across the state are working every day to address violent crime and we appreciate the Governor’s leadership and partnership. Her plan to provide additional funding in these critical areas will be a great boost to our efforts to make our communities safer."
Whitmer's announcement comes as Detroit police have dealt with a spike in violent crime this summer, including a rash of freeway shootings, brawls in Greektown and a slew of other incidents.
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