City of Flint Dot Net

Mayor lays down the law for police

Flint Mayor Don Williamson releases 26-point list

(09/28/06) -- These points were transcribed from a release provided by Mayor Don Williamson's office.

Restructuring of the Flint Police Department

There are many fantastic Flint police officers. This is very true. Through good leadership and discipline this aspect of police work can be duplicated!

The citizens of the city of Flint need an entire team effort from every Flint city police officer. Outstanding comment. NOW MAKE IT WORK!! When we call in suspects, act upon it! 3000 complaints downtown with suspects identified. Get them arrested and prosecuted!

1. Flint police officers will not be allowed to work four (4) ten (10) hour shifts. I don't see this as a Win or Lose issue.If we needed it do it! If we don't. Don't do it.

2. Police officers will not be allowed to retire after eighteen (18) years with a full pension. The union and I are in disagreement concerning these changes. I don't see the big deal here. But, Maybe the Mayor knows something I don't. I always see this as a type of reward for good service. Service to the community. Just as when I was in the USMC I remained a resident of Michigan but didn't have to pay state income tax while on duty! A perk of working for the people.

3. All officers will be requires to test for promotions. Promotions will be given by the proper procedures for advancement unless Keith Speer, the president of the Flint Police Officers Association, agrees to waive this procedure. Then promotions will be given by the mayor. Good! Now implement it fairly and across the board. No Favoritism! I would recommend a system of Meritorious promotion and regular performance evaluation.

4. One-half of all sergeants, lieutenants and captains will be put back on patrol. This cannot hurt! We need officers responding to calls that can begin investigations immediately and act upon eye witness testimony and information. As long as this results in Officers going after criminals when citizens are standing in front of the police car with the officer pointing fingers at the criminal driving by the police car saying "There goes the guy that was shooting..." And they actually go catch the !@#$@#$. Why wasn't this done sooner. I have to ask.. If officers on day shift only respond to one or two calls per day, compared to not having enough to respond on nights? Why didn't he just move officers onto the shifts they were needed. PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!!

5. I will immediately institute a policy that every police officer in each department will change positions every six (6) months until all positions have been completely recycled. All juvenile, school and patrol officers will be in the same category. Pro's and Con's to this one. This is going to require some good and effective leadership to implement properly. Judging by this Mayor's past track record I doubt he will pull this off effectively. And don't think I wouldn't welcome being wrong. I'd Love to see the Mayor succeed at this.

6. Effective immediately, all police officers, while on duty, will not be parked within 1,000 feet of each other's on-duty police vehicle, whether marked or unmarked, by a restaurant, body shop, pawn shop, coffee shop, gas station, business establishment or residential home, unless they are responding to a documented 911 call or complaint. City vehicles will not be used for any personal business under any circumstances. What? No more jam ups pulling into 7-11 or at the Junk Yards on Dort Hwy after hours. I don't know how we the people will react! I will now have the room now to turn around in the parking lot at Sherman's Lounge or Family Video! Sorry, I couldn't resist the Sarcasm.

7. I will do away with FANG officers and the officers working with the sheriff's department narcotics team and put these officers back on the roads of the city of Flint where they belong. Seems to me these are necessary programs that should be continued. Hopefully the Mayor has a well thought out reason. But, I can live with this. Besides, Flint police cars couldn't contact state or county officers directly anyway. they had to go through dispatch.

8. Under no circumstances will police officers be allowed to take their marked police vehicles home. All marked police vehicles shall stay within the limits of the city of Flint unless the officer has approval from the chief of police. That should clear up any confusion as to whether the officer is ON DUTY or OFF! I'm guessing this is the wisdom. If so. GOOD WISDOM!

9. After each shift, the officer shall fill up the police vehicle with gas and check the oil. They will indicate the number of miles each vehicle travels on each shift and the gallons of gas used per day, per shift. Forms will be provided. These completed forms shall be delivered to the mayor's office and the chief of police. This is a NO BRAINER, You mean to tell me this hasn't been going on? This should have been going to watch commanders or whomever is in charge, say a shift commander? Personally I think it's overkill to send these to the Mayor's office, or the Police Chief. But, That's not a complaint. If the Mayor wants to look them over, more power to him! Seems a bit like micro management.

10. All sergeants, lieutenants and captains will take 911 calls. So This HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING!! WHY NOT?

11. Any officer associating with persons convicted of a violent crime against women or children will be fired immediately. I don't think this one was thought out very well. So if you have a family member on the wrong side of the law you can be fired for going to Christmas dinner at Mom's house? I personally think this one is just plain silly.

12. Police officers working any other jobs other than with the Flint Police Department must have approval in writing by the chief of police every November 1st and May 1st. If there is not approval, they will not be allowed to work outside the scope of the Flint Police Department. Having a second job or Hobby or Interest shouldn't be against any department policy. Personal or constitutional rights should be upheld. This should only be a problem if that outside job interferes with their duties as a Flint Police Officer.

13. No police officer shall perform personal business on city time in a Flint police vehicle. Good Idea. So, I no longer have to beat a Flint Police car into the Dry Cleaners for a parking space near the door?

14. All police cars are to be "one-man cars." I'm not sure this is such a good idea. Anyone else noticed the level of criminal we have in Flint today. As long as two cars respond... This should be fine. However, if officers are supposed to be, or being made to patrol when they are not on a call. Who is looking and watching for the crime while on patrol. Driving in Flint is dangerous. you have to have your mind on your driving. Not on changing the station on the radio, not on talking on the cell phone, not on watching a hot woman walking down the street. When driving you have to be concentrating on driving! Not looking around at the scenery or looking for problems going on. One officer driving - the other watching on patrol.

15. No police cars are to be driven home. We will give them plain cars, but the officers must be in full uniform when driving these cars-if not in full uniform, call 766-7346 (mayor's office). I personally would even mind seeing some inspections of uniforms (while I don't know if this is currently being done) this instills pride and maintains discipline in the ranks.

16. All police officers will be in uniform, except narcotics officers. Also, all police officers, excepting narcotics officers. will be driving marked police cars which will include lights and lettering. OUTSTANDING... So your saying this isn't currently being followed?

17. There will be no police dogs-they will be laid off. This one I take issue with. Knowing the ability of some of our police officers while searching suspects. (namely ones with drugs on them) it seems this would be one area Flint might want to pursue more drug dogs. They would be most valuable on Drug raids and hostage situations. I personally don't think getting rid of this department would be beneficial to Flint. Part of the problem here is that in Burton. When the Police dog is needed it is on the scene within 30 minutes. When Police had a drug bust on the eastside in Flint. There where about twenty officers on hand, but not one police dog? If we have a department that isn't going to use the resources they have properly. Then maybe we don't need them. But here again, the problem lies with Management or Supervision's effective use of resources. PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!!

18. There will be a special shift working from 7:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. This is not a bad idea. It's just hiring more officers for it is! PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!! Day shift only responding to one or two calls a day???

19. Performance evaluation audit to be conducted by an outside audit form for all officers. This is another good idea. Only who is it that will be doing the evaluations? What information will they be using for it!

20. Mandatory shift rotations. I don't know how this will help? But I don't see how it could hurt either.

21. Satellite tracking system on police cars. This will ensure that officers respond promptly to calls and do not waste time while on duty. LOL LOL LOL I've been a big supporter of this idea. Only, Hey Mayor. If we had FREE WIRELESS INTERNET all the cars could be communicating with headquarters almost free of charge. Also, when an officer is in need of assistance supervisors will know right where to send help. Of in a police chase. supervisors will know who is where, so we don't have another police collision. PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!!

22. Response time audit to ensure officers are responding to calls promptly. What auditing is necessary? It's pretty simple. When a call comes in respond! Stop using officers for political purposes. We didn't need FIVE uniform police officers at council meeting when we have almost 40 of them there in the audience to voice their concerns about the departments leadership, nor did we need TWELVE officers at a housing commission meeting where not one arrest was made or anticipated! PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!!

23. Audit of time spent on calls to ensure officers are not wasting time. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! So no more being able to call in "On a call" for eight hours. That bears no fruits!

24. Officers in a stationary position for more than 5 minutes when they are not on a call, will have to leave a report as to why they were not patrolling the streets protecting the citizens of Flint. I'd love to see what these report entail. I'm sure the excuses will be entertaining.

25. Inactivity of officers while on duty will be scrutinized very closely. Maybe with more officers patrolling Cecil Dr and Jewell, those drug houses will have to close up shop!

26. These measures are being put in place to ensure that the citizens of Flint get the productivity and protection that they deserve. It's about time! PROPER USE OF RESOURCES DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY MAJOR CHANGE OR PERMISSION!!

These changes will give us 49 new patrol officers to answer 911 calls. Wow and you found them without having to hire any more new officers. I knew you could do it if we just kept on you. One thing not mentioned. Why are we looking at buying vehicles from Lansing? What happened to using the BID PROCESS? So we are going to violate city ordinances again! Then the Mayor is going to claim we saved money again, by spending more. This one really gets me going. Why can't the top law enforcement representative follow the very law he has sworn to uphold?

There are a few officers who think they are above responsibility to the citizens of this great city. If those officers are so smart and continue to follow their own agenda, then I suggest that this city will no longer tolerate their attitude-they should look for another job!! Thank You.

Police officers are not above the law-even if they think they are. So your saying no more drag racing of police cars down Dort Hwy? No More sirens to cut through an intersection to pull into a restaurant or Donut shop, No more sirens and lights so they can catch up to their buddy they saw going to other way? What are we to think?

I shall form a citizens investigative committee that will provide the city of Flint with license plate and vehicle numbers of police vehicles and city cars that may be in violation of the above enumerated subject matters. Are they going to be paid? I'll volunteer. Just to see justice done.

Let's keep striving to provide great police work to eradicate the crime we are facing. Since the County Jail is Full! How about opening the city jail and find somewhere to put all these criminals?