Eric Winstrom took leadership of the Grand Rapids Police Department as its chief in 2022, just one month before an officer shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, thrusting the department, its policies and training under scrutiny. That case resulted in specific changes.
“Updated policies on de-escalation, response to resistance and use of force were implemented along with sanctity of life policy that establishes it as the highest priority in the department, and training was completed to incorporate these new policies.”
Winstrom presented a timeline of changes to ensure a safer community and a more trusted police department, built on sometimes difficult public discussions.
One key improvement is GRPD building a co-response team with social workers to handle situations involving mental health issues.
Another is a revised recruitment program focusing on attracting both new and experienced officers who reflect diversity and values.
“We know we have top-notch training. We can train to elevate our recruits’ skills in police procedure so long as they have excellent character. That’s why we revamped our psychological screening process to screen for propensity for violence and screen for bias.”
Winstrom credits improvements to ongoing collaborations with neighborhood groups, city and business leaders.
“We haven’t done everything we’ve set out to do but we’re heading in the right direction.”
Chief Winstrom’s presentation can be viewed in its entirety on the City’s YouTube channel.
His presentation materials are available HERE.
