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Plan for Flint’s public safety offered

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By Kate Cole

Sunday, May 13, 2012

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David Caswell presented the city's public safety plan to members of the East Side Business Association May 9. According to Caswell, the public safety plan is available at the city's web site: www.cityofflint.com. Emergency Manager Mike Brown and his staff prepared the plan. Caswell distributed copies to members.

It is a hopeful document beginning with the statement that Gov. Rick Snyder used when he recently visited Flint: "People deserve to feel safe in their homes, to be able to walk to the grocery store or send their kids to school without fear."

Today, Flint residents do not feel safe and the crime rate continues to grow.

Caswell explained that the document is intended to establish a vision for Flint and its Public Safety Department.

"Conditions that led Flint into its present dilemma of an Emergency Manager takeover include its financial crisis, infrastructure deterioration and public safety issues," Caswell said.

"The loss of its major employer, GM, resulted in a population decline from 200,000 plus, to just barely over 102,000 people today. The jobless rate for Flint in 2011 was almost 20 percent. The sharp reduction in state revenue sharing, property tax and income tax fueled the city's deficit," said Caswell."

The safety plan states that the same conditions also affected the Flint Police Department (FPD). In Flint's heyday its police officers were the second highest paid in the state.

Today, the department is much smaller and has decreased funding.

Snyder got involved when the FBI ranked Flint in the top five most dangerous cities in the US in 2011 — the second most violent city per capita.

The safety plan identifies six overall goals, the first being to re-establish Flint as one of the safest cities in Michigan.

Other goals include additional partnerships with Michigan State Police (MSP) and other law enforcement agencies; redevelop FPD to support a data-driven community policing style of service delivery and build FPD capacity for data-driven decision making; enhance and develop community partnerships; and stabilize and enhance annual revenue for public safety.

"Right now we have two MSP squads patrolling in the city and possibly two more coming," Caswell said, "And Snyder has pledged $3 million to reopen the city lock-up, something everyone in the public safety arena says must happen soon."

The plan calls for the city to transition to the communication systems that the rest of the county uses.

"Flint is still using its old analog communication system and its own 911 system, separate from Genesee County," Caswell continued.

Snyder has made it clear that financial assistance from the state will be tied to increased collaborative efforts in delivering public safety. Moving to a common system will benefit the city, Caswell concluded.

The plan also calls for a countywide Criminal Justice System Advisory Council consisting of representation from public safety professionals and agencies and government unit political leadership.

"Genesee County Circuit Judge Richard B. Yuille has agreed to serve as the chairperson of the advisory council," Caswell explained. "Judge Yuille was born in Flint and has lived here his entire life."

Other potential changes in the FPD include 12-hour shift assignments and a policing approach initiated by MSP called Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic.

A reorganization of the Flint Fire Department and a grant from FEMA will provide for wages and benefits for an additional 39 firefighters bringing the firefighter total to 89.

Continuation of the Blue Badge volunteer program and working collaboratively with neighborhood associations, including crime watch programs, are also part of the plan.

The plan acknowledges the city needs a more stable source of revenue than its reliance on grants. City emergency manager Mike Brown believes that it is necessary to first engage the community — labor organizations, business community and other stakeholders in determining which revenue enhancement options are viable.

"The public safety plan is a working document," Caswell said. "Citizens need to track and hold public officials responsible."

Today, according to Caswell, Snyder is "putting his money where is mouth is."

"I've heard many people speak on this issue but what citizens need to do is to hold public officials accountable. We need to track the outcomes of this proposed plan," said Caswell.

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