Local law enforcement is top of mind in many communities around the country, including in Ann Arbor. The city council recently introduced a resolution asking for a review of the city's police department, which raised some questions and concerns from the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission tasked with overseeing the investigation.
After talking with the commission chair, WEMU's Lisa Barry checks in with Ann Arbor mayor Christopher Taylor for his hopes and intentions for the police department review.
Ann Arbor mayor Christopher Taylor says we are in a "national moment," where the pain of African Americans is evidenced in health care, education, law enforcement, government, and many other areas of life and that has us talking about policing. The mayor and several city council members recently introduced a resolution asking for a multi-stakeholder, data-driven review of the city's public safety services with the goal of radically rethinking how those services are provided in the city.
The mayor says it is his hope a strategic review can be done of Ann Arbor's safety services, including how it is structured and funded. The mayor adding if information can be brought back before the 18-month time frame mentioned in the resolution, he would welcome any findings from the review as soon as it becomes available.
Mayor Taylor says he discussed the resolution with Ann Arbor police chief Michael Cox, who told him the department takes its lead from what the community wants and seemed to welcome the review. Ann Arbor mayor Christopher Taylor adds that he is open to other resolutions "ICPOC" may have to offer about working together to improve safety services moving forward.
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
