Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
53% of mass attacks leave a trail of clues leading up to them, according to the Michigan State Police website. The website points out 76% of attackers had concerning communications or elicited concern from others. Additionally, for 59% percent of attackers, the first of these behaviors started over a year before the attack, according to https://www.michigan.gov/.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II was recently in Flint, talking about “Operation Safe Neighborhoods,” a statewide program aimed at drastically reducing gun violence by getting guns out of the hands of people with a criminal history.
According to Gilchrist, at least 675 illegal firearms have been taken out of the hands of potentially dangerous criminals.
“Since fall of 2022, when we announced Operation Safe Neighborhoods, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Correction, our United States attorneys, our Michigan State Police and local law enforcement – we’ve been doing compliance checks with people who are on parole or probation,” Gilchrist explained. “It’s been more than 6,300 of those that have been conducted and which are done obviously fairly, with respect to the humanity of the people who we’re checking in with. We’re doing it to make sure people don’t have guns they shouldn’t have. And that has what has covered these illegal guns we’ve been able to take off the street.”
The checks have been going ongoing since late 2022.
“We expect that to continue because we want to make sure these firearms are not even available to be used in the commission of crime,” added Gilchrist. “And when you combine that with our Community Violence Interruption, monies that we’ve put forward from the state from the last three state budgets, our local partners…the coalitions that are being formed; it’s going to help with conflict resolution. Combine that with just the broader affordable house work that we’re doing, the anti-poverty work that we’re doing in the state of Michigan. We think that all of this will make a difference for safer neighborhoods.”
Col. James Grady , director of the Michigan State Police, told the Courier state troopers removed 324 illegal firearms from the city. He was excited to share information on other projects aimed to curb gun violence the Michigan State Police have been involved in.
He said: “A couple months ago we’ve actually been involved in an initiative with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Safety. We provide gun locks – free of charge throughout the state of Michigan. If you go to a MDHHS site, you can get a free gun lock – no questions asked. This came through some funding for grants that the State Police Grants -Community Services Division was able to retrieve for the state. We’ve had incidents where the youth have gotten a hold of guns in the home because they weren’t properly secured. This is a great way to secure that weapon so we can ensure no one is hurt or insured.
“Stop a plot is another initiative we’ve also been involved in here at the State Police, that we are letting people know that there’s a website that’s available, where you can retrieve information, regarding mental health, or what you should do – some action steps you can take when you have a friend, a loved one, someone that’s not in the right mental state and they start making threats to hurt somebody or to do something back. You can get a hold of 1-800-MICHTIP and call that hotline, anonymously, safely. “
Additionally, OK2SAY is a student safety program that allows anyone to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at school students, school employees and schools. Ways to submit tips through this program can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say
Grady pointed out police has to work hand and hand with the community.
“Law enforcement cannot do it by themselves,” he said.
Flint Mayor Neeley, Flint Police Chief Green and other local and state leaders further shared Operation Safe Neighborhoods’ accomplishments and the vision for the future they see made possible through it.
Moses Bingham of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint pointed out the importance of being proactive.
He suggested: “Getting guns off the street…but not only that, but replacing guns with opportunities. There has to be an economic development aspect. It has to be youth programs, it has to be more than just guns off the streets.”
