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Schuette, Godbee Urge Snyder To Hire 1,000 Cops


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Schuette Wants Surplus For 1,000 Cops

 

Attorney General Bill SCHUETTE wants to use a portion of the state's $457 million unexpected surplus to hire 1,000 new police officers, MIRS has learned.

 

The plan is not part of a larger agreement with Gov. Rick SNYDER or legislative leaders on how the $457 million should be spent, only a proposal for lawmakers and the administration to consider as the Governor goes into the Feb. 9 budget message, sources tell MIRS.

 

While the administration and the Legislature has talked about using the money to pay down the state's long-term liability, shore up the rainy day fund and fund some education initiatives, public safety has not yet entered the discussion.

 

The Republican AG, who ran in 2010 on a law-and-order platform, also wants legislation to make sure more violent offenders stay incarcerated.

 

Schuette is holding a Wednesday morning press conference to announce his plan with Detroit Police Chief Ralph GODBEE, former Livonia Police Chief Bob STEVENSON and other law enforcement officials.

 

The AG's office pre-briefed some key officials today in advance of the press conference, but Schuette Press Secretary John SELLEK declined to comment.

 

"The Attorney General will announced his public safety legislative initiatives tomorrow with the help of Chief Godbee," he said.

 

In the 10 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 nearly 4,000 Michigan police officers have been laid off, according to a Capitol News Service report.

 

Michigan has received $471 million in federal homeland security grants from U.S. Department of Homeland Security since 2001. About 80 percent of these funds have gone to local departments to enhance response capabilities whether it be buying equipment or paying overtime.

 

The rest stays at the state level to work on projects like the Michigan Public Safety Communication System, CNS reported.

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Lansing— The state's top law enforcement officials called on Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday to use $140 million of the state's budget surplus to hire 1,000 law enforcement officers to bring violent crime under control in the state.

 

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee also called for legislation to impose 25-year minimum sentences for four-time felony offenders, tougher sentences for public officials who commit crimes and other crime fighting measures.

 

The two were joined by police chiefs, county prosecutors and representatives from the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Fraternal Order of Police. Schuette said he'd take $70 million for each of the next two years from Michigan's unexpected $457 million budget surplus and use it to hire 1,000 additional police officers per year. He said it would be up to lawmakers to decide what happens when the two years are up.

 

"We'll have more safety for Michigan families," Schuette said.

 

According to the Republican, Michigan has lost about 3,200 police officers since Sept. 11, 2001. He noted the state has four of the most violent cities in America: Detroit, Pontiac, Flint and Saginaw. Schuette said it will be up to the Legislature to work out how to allocate the law enforcement money over communities and disperse the officers.

 

"We can't have hot spots in Michigan where fear triumphs (and) where lawlessness reigns," Schuette said.

 

Godbee said Detroit's police force is down 1,200 officers since 2002. He said whatever formula is used to disperse the 1,000 officers, additional uniforms on the street will be a boon for the city. An extra 200 to 300 officers can mean the opening of two new precincts, he added.

 

"Obviously the more we can get out that formula the better, but I also have an understanding that crime is mobile and if we're going to prosper as a state and as a region there has to be reasonable gains surrounding Detroit also."

 

Public safety will be a major focus of Snyder's administration in 2012, the governor announced in his State of the State address last week. Snyder plans to lay out his crime-fighting plan in a Special Message to the Legislature in early March.

 

In his State of the State address, Snyder said his crime fighting plan will focus on three things: the criminal justice system, law enforcement and jobs.

 

In an interview with The News, Snyder said he plans to increase officers in the field but wouldn't say by how many or if he plans to increase the ranks of the Michigan State Police.

 

Snyder also said funding should be increased for law enforcement but wouldn't say by how much, or where the money would come from. He will present his budget to the Legislature on Feb. 9.

 

Schuette's plan also called for:

 

Improved procedures for informing a victim of a criminal's status, and explicit rights for a victim to be present at parole hearings

 

Tougher penalties for public officials who willfully neglect their duties or accept bribes.

 

A safe harbor for child victims of human trafficking.

 

Increased penalties for those who solicit sex from minors ages 16-18

 

 

 

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120125/METRO/201250392/Schuette-Godbee-urge-Snyder-hire-1-000-cops?odyssey=tab

 

 

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MIRS MIDDAY UPDATES:

 

Schuette Wants $140M For 1,000-Cop Plan ---- 12:15 p.m.

www.mirsnews.com/alert.php?alert_id=750

 

 

Attorney General Bill SCHUETTE wants to use $140 million of the state's $457 million surplus to put 1,000 more cops in Michigan cities over the next two years, a plan MIRS first reported last night.

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MIRS MIDDAY UPDATES:

 

Schuette Wants $140M For 1,000-Cop Plan ---- 12:15 p.m.

www.mirsnews.com/alert.php?alert_id=750

 

 

Attorney General Bill SCHUETTE wants to use $140 million of the state's $457 million surplus to put 1,000 more cops in Michigan cities over the next two years, a plan MIRS first reported last night.

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Really? he gets his own task force/army? for real, how many of those that get hired arent going to in his loyalty pocket for the "favor" of getting them a job. Not that i blame them for taking the jobs, i know i would, or performing their duties as law enforcement officers.

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