DETROIT (WWJ) -- Stellantis has decided to join in a ten year old Detroit anti-crime initiative. They will become the largest participant in “Project Green Light.”
“When I inquired about what it was, early this year, I was, like, this is something we needed to be a part of,” said Tony Cenci, head of U.S. assembly plant security at Stellantis. “As not only the only automaker that is a part of this program, but really having the largest representation in the city of Detroit, we needed to be a part of this initiative.”
There are now 55 high-definition exterior cameras, and more than 100 green beacon lights around the perimeter of Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex. It covers the size of roughly 567 football fields, and includes two assembly plants, as well as parking lots, loading docks and shipping yards.
Project Green Light has been around since 2016. It’s a partnership between police, community leaders and businesses to set up a visible deterrent to crime. The lights let would be criminals know they are being watched by a network of high definition cameras around the city.
“Knowing the green light’s out there. Knowing that the community’s involved, it’s a deterrent,” said Deputy Detroit Police Chief Mark Bliss. “And also, if something should occur, we do have that camera coverage.”
Bliss says the addition of Stellantis east side complex is the largest single expansion in the program’s history.
“Because this is such a large footprint in the fifth precinct, it helps not only our Project Green Light partner, but also the community having those cameras and coverage around.”
Stellantis hosting an event at its Detroit Assembly Complex to celebrate the launch. It’s not only expected to add to security at the plant, but improve safety in the surrounding east side neighborhood.
“My hope is the green lights are going to be for everybody, not just the plant,” says long time resident Darnell Gardner.
This expansion coincides with the start of the school year. Cenci says that safety extends beyond the plant gates, and Stellantis wants to be a good neighbor,
“We want to make sure the residents, our employees, everyone that comes and goes from our properties as well as around it, are safe and secure.”
