Gov. Whitmer signs directive to reduce crime, gun violence

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WILX) - Governor Gretchen Whitmer was in Kalamazoo Tuesday to hold a discussion addressing public safety and gun violence prevention measures.

Gov. Whitmer held a roundtable discussion with a bipartisan group consisting of students, parents, law enforcement officers, faith leaders, and elected officials to discuss ways to keep neighborhoods safe.

Following the roundtable, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive directive, which can be read in full below, that will coordinate and invest all available federal resources within the state’s government departments and law enforcement agencies into gun violence intervention and prevention measures.

“As a former prosecutor, public safety is a top priority for me,” said Gov. Whitmer. “But today, far too many families in Michigan do not feel safe in their neighborhoods because of crime and gun violence. That is unacceptable—we must stop the violence and hold people accountable.”

The directive instructs state departments and agencies to efficiently use all available resources from the recently passed Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to reduce crime and gun violence. Within 30 days, all departments and agencies must identify a designee who will coordinate across state government. The Michigan State Police (MSP) must explore ways to improve Michigan’s process for reporting criminal, mental health, and juvenile records to national criminal databases. MSP will also be required to establish the Community Violence Intervention Office which will coordinate state and federal grants related to community violence intervention programming.

The move comes on the heels of the governor signing a record budget into law aimed at helping communities fund local law enforcement departments along with hiring additional first responders.

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