7/27/22 - Gov. Whitmer Signs Executive Directive

The Governor encourages state departments to use more federal resources to reduce crime.

-Governor Whitmer was in Kalamazoo on Tuesday where she signed an executive directive instructing state departments and law enforcement agencies to use federal resources from the bipartisan Safer Communities Act to reduce crime and gun violence in Michigan. 

The Governor said that we need to do more to tackle both crime and gun violence.  Nearly 1 in 3 reported violent crimes involved a firearm in the first six months of this year.  Over 450 Michiganders have died because of gun violence. 

Within 30 days, state departments and law enforcement agencies must "identify a designee to coordinate across state government." 

Michigan State Police must also look into ways to better the state’s process for reporting criminal, mental health and juvenile records to national criminal databases, as well as establish the Community Violence Intervention Office.  that office will help coordinate state and federal grants related to community violence intervention programming.

Before signing the order, Governor Whitmer held a roundtable discussion at the Kalamazoo Promise offices in downtown Kalamazoo. Participants included members of law enforcement, the medical community, faith leaders, students, hunters, and people who were personally affected by gun violence.