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Community Police Officer Program

At a glance

  • What: The Grand Rapids Police Department's Community Police Officer program, restored in 2025 after being disbanded in 2021.
  • Where it stands: Eight officers as of September 2026; two more planned for spring 2027.
  • Next: Goal of two officers per service area (ten), and possibly more later.

Details

  • Program began in 1998 with up to 18 officers; disbanded in 2021 amid staffing shortages.
  • Officers sit in the Community Engagement Unit and focus on code enforcement, parks, repeat callers, street takeovers, retail fraud and church safety.
  • The unit and the co-response team will receive awards from the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan in October.

Sources

  • Public Safety Committee 2026-09-22, YouTube auto-generated captions.

Log

2026-09-22 - Public Safety Committee

  • Briefing received; no vote taken.