UM-Flint DPS receives $935K in grant funding for community development

Many know the University of Michigan-Flint's Department of Public Safety for offering services like Safe Ride, being visible at many campus events, and patrolling the streets of downtown Flint, thereby ensuring the safety of the campus community. However, this is only a portion of the work DPS does, as much of its work benefits the Flint community as a whole. To that end, DPS has recently been awarded $935,000 from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to continue building its community policing capability, enhancing the department's opportunity to serve the campus and surrounding area.

"The cornerstone of effective public safety is a strong connection with the community," said Ray Hall, director of public safety at UM-Flint. "We have a moral obligation to support the community that is so supportive of our campus. We need to support those individuals who might otherwise not receive the type of service and assistance they deserve."

The nearly $1 million grant focuses on youth crime intervention, aiming to connect at-risk youth with resources to set them on the right path, as well as programs and events that encourage safe and responsible choices. "We have monthly meetings provided by Mott Community College where we discuss public safety concerns, challenges and opportunities, and work together to address very real issues in our community," said Hall.

Alongside these meetings, DPS has created a network of community partners that includes the Michigan State Police, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hurley Medical Center, My Brothers Keeper, and many more. The grant will open a number of project management positions to students and Flint residents. These positions will strengthen the connections between community partners and help members of the community find support and employment opportunities.

"Working with the greater Flint community, our law enforcement community, and the residents themselves are the pillars of our philosophy, and these pillars define how we will tackle these problems," said Hall. "Crime is a complex issue and there are many factors that influence it, therefore our response to it must be equally complex."

By building a varied network of community resources and partners, DPS is able to navigate cases while putting rehabilitation first. Hall hopes that the funding from the grant can help support key community partners, and the foundations which DPS builds their practice upon. "Our job only begins by holding someone accountable," said Hall. "After that, we need to support the individual in following a different path, rather than making choices that can end poorly for them, or the entire community."

For DPS, a critical part of the process is getting feedback from families in the community, and these partnerships allow them to do that. "The folks living in the neighborhoods and downtown, they are the ones who know what is best," said Hall. "We are going to take their lead, first and foremost. We want to be proactive in a community that deserves meaningful strategies, and we cannot impact youth without impacting their families as well."

DPS serves the downtown community in many ways, including law enforcement. They also host events such as Touch-a-Truck, Officer Friendly Day, and Harvest Fest to connect with residents and their families. At these events, DPS staff and university students can make a genuine impact on youth while showcasing resources and support opportunities from their community partners.

These initiatives aim to support downtown and the greater Flint community by encouraging camaraderie between neighbors and business owners. "The success here relies on the school teacher in a classroom who spends a few minutes helping a child read at grade level, or the individuals who clean up their neighborhood by throwing away litter when they see it," said Hall. "When we say we are impacting youth, we aren't just talking about crime intervention, but housing affordability and safety as well. The youth in these communities will benefit from having a place they can truly call home. It will take a lot of hard work, but it's work we've agreed to take on no matter what."

DPS is researching various law enforcement practice models used by agencies throughout the country. These best practice models meet at the intersection of community partnerships, residents, and law enforcement agencies. Hall hopes that these changes will encourage police departments around the country to adopt more community-forward approaches to law enforcement, which put the well-being and success of their community members at the forefront of their operational philosophy.

"What this grant will support is sustainability," said Hall. "Long after the grant is forgotten, long after staff come and go, these youth crime intervention strategies will be sustainable." Even outside of DPS, Hall hopes that these initiatives will prepare UM-Flint Students to promote proactive policing in other communities as well.

To learn more about DPS, visit the department's webpage.