violent crime

Michigan State Police troopers bring safety message to Flint elementary schools

Steve Carmody — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:32:47 +0000

About 20 Michigan State Troopers are spending the next few days meeting with Flint schoolchildren.

Michigan State Police Colonel Kriste Kibbey Etue told a student assembly today at Bryant Elementary in Flint that she would like to see them waving at Michigan State Police patrol cars as they drive through their neighborhood.

“Because it really kind of hurts our feelings when our car goes by and no one waves at us,” Etue told the students.

One student blurted out “We be scared”, which drew laughter from the students.

Spike in violent crime near Grand Rapids prompts state police helicopter patrols

Lindsey Smith — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:43:14 +0000

This month Michigan State Police helicopters began what will be regular patrols of the Grand Rapids area.

Lieutenant Chris McIntire commands the Rockford Post. He says the patrols come in response to a spike in murders and other violent crime in the past few months.

“Not just in Grand Rapids but all of western Michigan, the State Police has found it's probably a benefit to bring some of those resources over here, help to curb some of that crime,” McIntire said.

Will 7 new police officers in Flint help?

Stateside Staff — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:04:45 +0000

There are seven new police officers patrolling the streets of Flint. They were hired as part of a public safety millage approved by Flint voters last November.

The millage is expected to generate $5.3 million this year, but what's going to happen in future years as the population keeps shrinking and property values drop?

With the recent hiring of seven officers, the Flint Police Department now has 124 officers. That is down from an estimated 350 officers when times were better.

Will these new officers help make a dent in Flint's crime rate? Flint is in the unenviable spot near the top of many of the "most violent city" lists.

Kevin Smith is the president of the Flint Police Officer's Association.

He mentioned that the seven new officers won't make a big difference any time soon. We asked what it would take, in terms of staffing, to make Flint noticeably safer.

To hear the full interview, click the link above.

MSU Researchers: Murder spreads like disease

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:08:50 +0000

A group of Michigan State University researchers say violence spreads through communities in much the same way diseases do.
The researchers looked at homicide data from Newark, New Jersey over a 26-year period, from 1982-2008.
Researcher and study author April Zeoli says the work stemmed from the perception that violence is “contagious.”

Man who opened fire in police station was a veteran

Mark Brush — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:00:21 +0000

Yesterday, on Veterans Day, Southfield police say a man entered a police station in the Detroit suburb and opened fire.
Yesterday's first AP report said the man and an officer were wounded in the shootout:
Southfield police say a man entered a police station in the Detroit suburb and opened fire, then was wounded in an exchange of shots with an officer who also was hit.

Police tell WXYZ-TV and WJBK-TV that the shooting happened Sunday afternoon in the Detroit suburb. They say the wounded officer and the suspect are in stable condition.
Now we learn that the man who entered the station was a veteran and he was killed in the shootout.
The 64-year old man was identified as Harold J. Collins of Southfield.
More from MLive
Collins was shot several times and killed.

Investigators identified Collins as a military veteran. He was in poor health and had "serious internal issues," Southfield Police Chief Eric Lawson said Monday.

Lawson was unsure in what branch of the military Collins served. He would "not speculate" on whether that played a role in the shooting or timing.
The Detroit Free Press has more details on how the shooting occurred.
At 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, police said Collins left his white Dodge Caliber and walked into the department lobby in plain clothes. Hawkins said he approached the information desk, which is behind protective glass, and gave no answer when the officer behind the glass greeted him.
“There was nothing to alert any of our staff that anything unusual was about to happen,” said Hawkins.
The Free Press reports officers are still trying to reach Collins' family members.

Insane Clown Posse takes F.B.I. to court

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:13:17 +0000

Oakland County hip-hop group Insane Clown Posse is taking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to court.
A lawsuit filed in Flint federal district court on Tuesday contends the F.B.I. violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to turn over information that led the agency to classify fans of the group as a gang.

Flint to use high tech tool to target gun crime

Steve Carmody — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:32:29 +0000

The city of Flint is turning to a new high tech tool to crack down on gun crime in the city.
The "Shot Spotter” system uses more than a dozen sonic sensors to pinpoint the location of where gun shots are fired in a square mile area. The SST system is already being used in more than 60 cities around the country, including Saginaw.
Company president Ralph Clark said the Shot Spotter system should help Flint police officers respond to reports of gunfire in the city.

Flint looking at ways to prevent crime

Steve Carmody — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:28:57 +0000

Citizens of Flint are talking about ways to reduce their city’s violent crime rate.    It’s all part of a special series of public meetings on crime prevention.
Flint recently topped a list of the nation’s cities with the worst violent crime rates.    Gun violence is a chief problem.    Police say 90% of Flint’s homicides involve firearms.
Donna Gallo was among dozens of Flint residents at a special public meeting on violent crime last night.

Violent crime rising in some Michigan cities

Steve Carmody — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:30:26 +0000

Flint is being called “the Most Dangerous City in America.”   The FBI released a report today that shows Flint had the highest violent crime rate in the nation last year among cities with 100,000 or more people.
Flint recorded a record number of murders in 2010. Other violent crimes also increased, as budget cuts forced the city to reduce its police force.