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Grand Rapids Chief of Police finalists formally introduced to community

GRPD

Public forum held Wednesday evening.

The three finalists in the running to be Grand Rapids’ next Chief of Police were formally introduced Wednesday evening at a public forum. Each candidate spoke for roughly 35 minutes apiece, and were given the opportunity to explain why they wanted the job.

First to speak, current Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker:

“This is a pivotal moment, a real pivot point.," Blocker said. "As we have come from defunding the police, to refunding the police, but the key here, is that the community is going to demand that we do it differently. And so if there was one town that professionally, I wanted to put in for, it would be this one.”

Next up: Chicago Police Commander Eric Winstrom:

“So why Grand Rapids for me," Winstrom said. "The vision for the Grand Rapids Police Department, is to make Grand Rapids the safest midsized city in the country. To make the Grand Rapids Police Department the most trusted Police Department in the country," he said.

"And for somebody in police leadership, this is something that I want to be a part of.”

Last to speak, retired Milwaukee Police Inspector Jutiki Jackson.

Multiple news outlets including WGVU reported this week, that Jackson had accidentally shot and killed a 22-year-old man during a traffic stop back in 1997.

Jackson addressed the incident out of the gates.

“Unfortunately, a shooting happened, and it is something that I think about, and has been with me for the past 24 years," Jackson said. "It is important to note-- that the district attorney’s office, along with the police department’s internal affairs division, conducted a full-scale investigation, and they both arrived at the same conclusion: that there was no wrong doing on my part.”

The City of Grand Rapids told WGVU it had been made aware of the shooting prior to selecting Jackson as a finalist, and it did not hurt his chances of being considered for the job.

View the public forum in its entirety below. Video courtesy of the City of Grand Rapids YouTube page.

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