Great Lakes Wire

DETROIT, Mich. – On May 16, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined local officials to give an update on the number of illegal guns recovered under Operation Safe Neighborhoods to keep communities safe. Since the operation began, law enforcement officials have conducted nearly 3,400 check-ins with felony offenders, leading to 389 illegal guns taken out of communities. During sweeps, officers have also recovered illegal drugs and ammunition. 

 “As a former prosecutor, protecting public safety is a top priority,” said Governor Whitmer. “By getting nearly 400 illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals before they can be used in the commission of a crime, we are taking action to keep families and communities safe. Earlier this year, I signed legislation establishing universal background checks and safe storage requirements, and I will work with anyone to reduce gun violence.” 

 "There is too much gun violence in our country because there are too many illegal guns on the street. Detroit is not immune to this and it's going to take a coordinated effort at the local, state and federal levels to address this problem,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “We are fortunate to have a Governor who is deeply engaged in this issue, and we appreciate her leadership at the state level to support the great work being done by our DPD officers." 

 “One of the most valuable lessons I took away from my time as a police officer is that trust between community members and law enforcement officials is an absolute must when it comes to community violence prevention,” said state Representative Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit). “The Operation Safe Neighborhoods program helps to grow and foster that exact kind of trust. Plus, and very importantly, getting illegal firearms out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals makes both residents and police officers better protected from gun violence; in fact, it increases overall community safety. I am glad to give my ongoing support to Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist in this continued public safety endeavor.” 

 Operation Safe Neighborhoods is a statewide crackdown on crime aimed at reducing gun violence by getting illegal guns out of communities and out of the hands of people who cannot legally be in possession of a gun due to prior criminal history. 

 “Illegal firearms have no place in our community,” said Detroit Police Chief James E. White. “We applaud the governor’s commitment and the work of our officers toward keeping the city and its residents safe.”  

 “Our field agents are critical in our efforts to create a safer Michigan for all residents and our great partnership with law enforcement agencies across the state helps us daily in that effort,” said Heidi Washington, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections. “Targeting our intelligence efforts in this focused way is generating real results that are taking guns off the streets, which leads to safer communities and fewer victims.” 

Nearly one in three reported violent crimes in Michigan involve a firearm. This initiative builds on Governor Whitmer’s MI Safe Communities program that she launched in 2021 to invest in local police, get illegal guns out of communities, and fund expanded opportunities in jobs, education, and the justice system.

About Operation Safe Neighborhoods 

MDOC parole and probation agents teamed up with local law enforcement across the state and have been conducting enhanced compliance checks on probationers and parolees who are legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

There are roughly 32,000 probationers and 8,500 parolees in the state, of which 20 percent have been convicted previously of a gun crime. These individuals are supervised by more than 1,000 MDOC parole and probation agents. The plan the department devised and implemented is aimed at the strategic targeting of high-risk individuals who have weapons possession in their criminal history that could be used to commit further crime. 

 Governor Whitmer’s $1 Billion Record Breaking Public Safety Investments 

As a former prosecutor, public safety is a core issue for Governor Whitmer. She has worked closely with local leaders, law enforcement officers, and community organizations to ensure people feel safe in their neighborhoods. Since taking office, she has signed four balanced, bipartisan budgets, each making record investments to help communities fund local law enforcement departments and hire more first responders. 

 In the balanced, bipartisan budget Governor Whitmer signed in July 2022, she made the largest investment in public safety since taking office. This investment brings the total funding for first responders and public safety initiatives under the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration to $1,056,267,100.

  Last summer, the governor proposed MI Safe Communities, a plan to invest $75 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to reduce crime and keep families safe by getting illegal firearms out of communities tackle the criminal court backlog, expand resources available to law enforcement, and address the root causes of crime by investing in jobs programs, counseling, and education. 

 Governor Whitmer’s Proposals to Keep Communities Safe 

Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has made record investments to keep communities safe, including funding to keep kids safe at school, support the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and enact historic criminal justice reform. In February, she announced her 2024 executive budget recommendation which includes $500 million to build on this funding. Governor Whitmer’s proposals include dedicated resources for the first time ever to hire, train, and retain local cops, firefighters, and EMTs and upgrade public safety facilities and equipment. She also calls for funding to implement gun violence prevention policies and expand programs aimed at reducing recidivism.

Her budget recommendation includes: 

• $50.4 million to leverage the State Police Training Academy to serve as a criminal justice training hub to support realistic, multi-disciplinary training opportunities for law enforcement agencies across the state.
• $36.6 million in new statutory revenue sharing (2% ongoing and 5% one-time) dedicated specifically for public safety, including employee recruitment, retention, training, and equipment for first responders.
• $18.2 million to provide in-service training to licensed law enforcement officers.
• $11.5 million for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base to improve and maintain infrastructure at the base to continue to position Michigan to compete for next generation aircraft and future fighter missions.
• $10.8 million to establish the Office of Community Violence Intervention Services to partner with community-based organizations already working to reduce violent incidents.
• $10.4 million to improve safety and accountability in correctional facilities, including $7.1 million to outfit corrections officers with body cameras.
• $9 million to run a Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School, graduating an anticipated 50 new recruits.
• $5 million to enact various recommendations from the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, including creating a Juvenile Justice Services Division within the State Court Administrative Office and expanding the scope of the Office of the Children’s Advocate.
• $5 million to expand the Jobs Court, a program that aims to reduce recidivism by providing jobs and services to disadvantaged offenders.
• $1.9 million to implement gun violence prevention policies.
• $72 million increase over current year funding, for a total of $220.9 million, for Michigan Indigent Defense Commission grants to local judicial systems across the state.

Governor Whitmer’s Criminal Justice Investments 

Governor Whitmer has also worked across the aisle to enact historic criminal justice reform. She signed bipartisan "Clean Slate" legislation to help hundreds of thousands of Michiganders emerge from the criminal justice system with enhanced opportunities for jobs and housing, empowering them to pursue their full potential. She also launched task forces to address pretrial incarceration and juvenile justice and pursued reforms to improve relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve. 

 In July 2022, Governor Whitmer signed her fourth balanced, bipartisan budget that included funding for Jobs Court, a program that offers non-violent, low-level offenders gainful employment with local partnering small businesses.

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