Agustin Arbulu from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights announced on Tuesday that they will be launching an investigation into the Grand Rapids Police Department. According to Arbulu twice as many complaints have been made this year about GRPD.
“We do believe they warrant thorough investigation”
A little over a month ago, the state civil rights department held two listening sessions in Grand Rapid where more than 80 residents shared their complaints about GRPD. Arbulu said the department is looking into 23 complaints of discrimination against the police department.
“If after the investigations are complete the department determines that discrimination did take place or that it continues to take place it will file one or more formal charges of discrimination.”
The GRPD Chief, David Kiddle said in a statement that the department is committed to working with the Michigan Civil Rights Department and remaining transparent throughout the process.
If the civil rights department determines discrimination happened, GRPD will have the opportunity to remediate the problem and ensure it doesn’t happen again. Arbulu said he believes this is the first time ever the civil rights department has investigated an entire police force.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.