[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6360236,"mediaKeyId","2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617","parentId",2175092,"title","Emergency management administrator outlines five‑year build of Grand Rapids program, cites THIRA and storm‑ready designation","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",3048000,"endMs",3730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617&start=3048&end=3730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617/thumbnail_3048000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360236/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Emergency-management-administrator-outlines-fiveyear-build-of-Grand-Rapids-program-cites-THIRA-and-stormready-designation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360236-6567a8c2c45c958b118e973bbd31e457/orig.mp4?Expires=1776410244&Signature=UijQiW9TqghqmqucRyQJNO8cOx9BX-Mv23eoVMKHMz78XZMKOKIKbSWY9qJJzgAdwO~mXfG9Lijq4ZiEmVgOJCGOfh9u0nL6U53a4JewrC03TaeBGMIHzTBhS2RWeZNkfuOG1FQnfE0G6oMeNO61yUt~i8K48L61fCrAzRxlm8m1QYoX96nQC8~pwyrr64Y67JmkYfqme-rDHptH42O~JnG6jy4PZNKdmm47OGKJ9759n2YRWHyJRBdAkXZKLaEemo0Jc0sHmA7E4NBkw82RlnC5Aoiw6zKboO83MM6OparhRHQZGvpyEeXBs4vtwYcHxkYBGfFTEUT9smuKDYXtmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Grand Rapids","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Allison Froley, the city’s emergency management administrator, told the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 31 that her office has spent the past five years building the city’s emergency management baseline, completing an all‑hazards emergency operations plan, obtaining access to the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), expanding public outreach and achieving a StormReady designation.

Why it matters: Froley said the city now has a documented operations framework, alerting capability, a growing CERT volunteer base and an ongoing risk assessment (THIRA) that will guide where the city must invest to close preparedness gaps.

Froley said she began building the office after the city terminated a contract with Kent County that previously provided emergency‑management services. She said a federal grant enabled the city to hire emergency management specialists who expanded community outreach and volunteer programs. The office completed an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) within the first two years and noted that the EOP is reviewed and updated on a four‑year cycle.

On public alerting, Froley said the city now has IPAWS access for pushing critical warnings such as boil‑water advisories and tornado warnings. She highlighted that the city earned a StormReady designation last summer and is the largest city in Michigan with that status.

Froley described current projects: a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) to identify priority hazards and stakeholder preparedness gaps; growth of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program (currently 38 volunteers with another class of about 14 in training); and continued development of facility emergency plans, exercises, and recovery planning. She said the office seeks to build capacity for sustained preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation over the next five years and is considering accreditation for the emergency management program.

Committee members asked about stakeholder outreach and inclusion; Froley said quarterly stakeholder meetings are expanding and that she continuously adds organizations to the invitation list as gaps are identified. She invited committee members to participate in future preparedness workshops.

Ending: The administrator said the office will continue the THIRA process, expand CERT and community outreach, and pursue accreditation milestones as capacity allows.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Safety Committee - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Allison Froley, the city’s emergency management administrator, told the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 31 that her office has spent the past five years building the city’s emergency management baseline, completing an all‑hazards emergency operations plan, obtaining access to the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), expanding public outreach and achieving a StormReady designation.","taxTitle","Grand Rapids City, Kent County, Michigan","taxId",3704,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360241,"Grand Rapids Fire Department reports multiple recent fatalities, outlines staffing and fleet plans",990,1522000,2512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617&start=1522&end=2512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617/thumbnail_1522000.jpg","/articles/6360241/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Grand-Rapids-Fire-Department-reports-multiple-recent-fatalities-outlines-staffing-and-fleet-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360241-3232ce9976d00eed144c28c07770b8fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1776410244&Signature=OQWyzK8m-VMv88x7DJT1kRnCEeBf4oKUhZY2y2ruHrqpsKS66H-DJLiSNguHim8SxJNtB3yWWppa2mVgtoE02IniFxZbMagAmK2Qej85AQTUKHPaLurTUI7aXtAuud0L4jjCA1ZLr5DCEj1ddwwXYs3oglVaw5r-xq44yfjECXlvu9Jtg5FWNUC0lb9WaEvxCVY3m9inCQcYlz3bVdbq77fsUnJQViYc2B0e7KjBb6RvgzymCNEXZ~bOeQ9J0rHIG5mxbd92wu14sOq27iT9PXFOC~ACTi1e~TCSnyBxcTBKaK3O0v~dQXEg8E71NbCfOTUQ9yd-aSrwkUVPL~bMQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Rapids Fire Department briefed the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 31 about a week that included multiple fatal incidents and a broader overview of department operations, training and fleet strategy.

Why it matters: The department said recent incidents highlighted the demands on personnel and equipment and reinforced the need for sufficient staffing, rapid apparatus maintenance and investments in training and facilities to sustain emergency response.

Fire Chief (Grand Rapids Fire Department) described several major incidents over a seven‑day period, including multiple structure fires with civilian fatalities, a highway extrication that resulted in a fatality, and a presumed fatal river recovery. The chief said the department ran 553 calls in a single Sunday‑to‑Sunday reporting period and averages about 70 incidents per day that generate approximately 85 apparatus responses.

Operational details provided by the chief included that the department runs 24‑hour shifts with an average 52‑hour work week, currently fields 15 crews and will add Engine 12 in the Southeast Side this fall to operate 16 units daily. Deputy Chief Jack Johnson oversees operations, the chief said, and a pilot position branded “Car 97” — a 24‑hour fire inspector and investigator — has become “invaluable.”

On training and facilities, the department plans to move its training operations to a new facility at 850 Panel (training center name in transcript) to expand partnerships with Grand Rapids Community College and area higher‑education institutions. The chief noted the department performs wide emergency medical services work: about 64% of calls are medical and fire crews arrive first on scene roughly 90% of the time.

The chief warned of national supply‑chain pressures for apparatus and described an existing local mitigation strategy: buying stock apparatus from a nearby manufacturer in Wyoming and prioritizing local suppliers to shorten lead times. He illustrated the problem with national examples, saying other jurisdictions have large numbers of trucks out of service for extended repairs. For Grand Rapids, the department maintains more than 70 vehicles and nearly 266,000 square feet of facilities under roof, many built before 1980.

On maintenance, the chief said the department currently outsources vehicle maintenance to a single third‑party vendor and plans to bring mechanical maintenance in‑house once it relocates to the Panel Training Center to reduce wait times for repairs and prioritize fire apparatus availability.

Recruitment and hiring were addressed: the chief said the department received roughly 834 applications the last time it opened hiring and has hired 19 new personnel who will start next Monday; officials credited active community recruitment and outreach for improving candidate diversity.

Committee members asked about costs for in‑house mechanics; the chief said bringing maintenance in‑house is expected to be approximately cost‑neutral when offset against outside vendor expenses but that operational reliability is the chief priority.

Ending: The chief closed by underscoring the interdependence of training, facilities, fleet and staffing in sustaining emergency response and invited committee members to visit the training facility before it relocates.","Fire leaders detailed a week of major incidents that included multiple fatal fires and vehicle fatalities, described operations staffing, training center relocation, and plans to bring maintenance in‑house to reduce fleet downtime.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360246,"Grand Rapids police cite mixed crime trends, highlight co‑response mental‑health partnership",1310,110000,1420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617&start=110&end=1420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617/thumbnail_110000.jpg","/articles/6360246/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Grand-Rapids-police-cite-mixed-crime-trends-highlight-coresponse-mentalhealth-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360246-fc083058e0bcd6986b5bb80becff1887/orig.mp4?Expires=1776410244&Signature=AlAN0T2NfAT~hdqftzJvCgvYwokcFBd8naVkuNca~idfUeWC~9FsJ0jHClcvk2-ojqKyGo9r6iADnH0vSOYnhJLO2FsM9Bs~zy2shzjgs7Hw2VOaY2yjBWcbW5weBwkhQZXsUcLL662z7LcFHs4i-ytOSv3Bb1dG-GnA0Ywsgpaw1MvGcXqGB6PJA7fRIKgOTa-4tZqBS1lzojM6cCrxKkQgdROhISkXOSu6gHTccfvFktdc4ANLLxbsTS2YHLqWX-D4w~UPNwtkSehkBdt43FBTgmf8WoUYYWpi~oeo5h9ZsX6aEBkV3HsGfsHmeyGmMQLRraHG0dnfp6BaSR9Xqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police leaders told the Grand Rapids Public Safety Committee on Jan. 31 that overall auto thefts are down to below pre‑pandemic levels while the city continues to investigate its first recorded homicide of 2025 and to track fatal overdoses.

The committee heard an update on the Grand Rapids Police Department’s co‑response program, a partnership with Network 180 that pairs clinicians with officers to respond to behavioral‑health calls. Police officials said the co‑response clinicians average 5.8 calls per day and that the team handled 92 drop‑offs to the new behavioral health crisis center in 2024 after the center opened in June.

Why it matters: Committee members and staff framed co‑response as part of a broader shift in how police respond to behavioral health and substance‑use crises, with officials saying the approach reduces emergency‑room visits, EMS responses and arrests for people in need of treatment rather than criminal prosecution.

Police Chief (Grand Rapids Police Department) opened the briefing by noting both progress and tragedy: “If you weren't aware, we lost Shamaya Stewart, a 12‑year‑old girl, which would count for our statistically first murder of, 2025,” and added investigators are continuing work on that case. The chief also said detectives are maintaining active investigative work on older homicide cases and that the department recovers “more than 1 illegally possessed gun, every day of the year so far in 2025.”

On property crime, the chief described a strong decline in auto theft compared with the spike that began in 2022 tied to thefts of certain vehicle makes. He credited police work with manufacturers and community prevention efforts for the decline.

Chrissy, MSW (Network 180), described the behavioral health crisis center as “a 24‑7, social‑work run” facility that functions “almost like a 24‑7 ER for mental health and substance use.” Committee members asked about average lengths of stay and capacity; Chrissy said average stays are about 72 hours and chief staff later estimated the center operates with roughly 12 to 14 beds depending on acuity. Daryl Howard (downtown supervisor and co‑response team member) joined the briefing and was present to answer operational questions.

Committee members raised staffing and sustainability questions: staff and elected officials noted Network 180 currently pays some co‑response salaries and that funding also includes state and federal grants, ARPA funds, and other grant sources. The police chief said staffing has been incremental — “we started with 1, then we went to 2, then we went to 3” — and that the department would consider whether the city should commit local resources to scale the program.

Members discussed workforce recruitment challenges for social workers, noting national surveys that many social workers report safety concerns in the field. The chief and Network 180 staff said co‑response clinicians do not go out alone and that the partnership aims to make the roles sustainable. Committee members and staff also discussed outreach, follow‑up and “wraparound” services for repeat high utilizers and whether the next program phase should include proactive wellness checks and stronger case management.

The briefing also covered overdose geography and demographics, with a chief’s slide showing overdoses occurring citywide, a higher male rate (about 2:1) and disproportionate impacts on the African American community when adjusted per capita. The chief noted there were three recorded fatal overdoses in the reported period.

The committee did not take formal action during the briefing; members asked for additional data on crisis‑center capacity and for future updates on program scaling, referrals and outcomes.

Ending: Officials said they would continue the incremental staffing approach and bring additional capacity and funding questions back to the committee in future briefings.","Police reported an overall downward trend in auto thefts, ongoing work on homicides and overdoses, and described the city’s co‑response program with Network 180, which averages 5.8 calls per day and has three MSW clinicians embedded with officers.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360231,"City confirms existing policy to prioritize safety over immigration enforcement; policy in commission packet",288,3876000,4164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617&start=3876&end=4164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175092-2f8cfdea34880aea36d45a8a0df22617/thumbnail_3876000.jpg","/articles/6360231/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/City-confirms-existing-policy-to-prioritize-safety-over-immigration-enforcement-policy-in-commission-packet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360231-2df9862c62ee7a58f8dd034527a06036/orig.mp4?Expires=1776410244&Signature=eRyMHutDHitajaEd7cZDc8mSK3aBkUxxvEtnKdqCFJSaBgcKyQt4Hw9wKZfKgalyWfXn-yBPfugITAWYbaBF-QAoov7FuR4aLDbwtiUDrjMOgpO0tqq6kd7tpNc9BrWEx1-3NXZzZUitqLlsYFES~yJdhYHsa~tVrPY3MZKLaACid6lBMwSwLSEfRqCkl6GaJfRnjfShw-Z4UP5-AaXDA4WdUv8pmJ~-2P65RtzmkH7D8Ujqn88ccaMQlwJj3gw4NtcvyXW5e7~0fuq12ucLeUQ0pm94YLBtoX4v-EOIoFb4tD7sDIzYIYwpXHFFJE-iaezRotSgAd6M1rdSdcUdEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City and police leadership told the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 31 that the Grand Rapids Police Department and the city maintain existing policies that prioritize public safety over immigration enforcement and that the current policy documents are available in the city commission packet.

Why it matters: The discussion came after national coverage and local concern about potential enforcement actions that could affect community trust and 911 reporting; officials said reaffirming the policy and ensuring clear public communication is important to public safety.

City Manager (City of Grand Rapids) and Police Chief (Grand Rapids Police Department) both addressed committee questions about undocumented residents and enforcement. City leadership said the city has had a policy in place since 2017 and the police department has followed a policy since 2019 that focuses departmental resources on violent and public‑safety matters rather than immigration enforcement. The manager said the written policy is in the city commission packet and will be part of public discussion at the commission meeting that evening.

Police Chief reiterated public comments made previously: “The Grand Rapids Police Department isn't in the immigration enforcement business,” and added the department’s public messaging is designed to make sure residents feel comfortable calling 911 without fear of immigration consequences. City representatives said they have ongoing communication with federal partners and are monitoring national developments but that no change to local policy was proposed at the committee meeting.

Ending: Officials said they will share the written policy with the committee and foster public communication so residents understand how police prioritize resources.","Following national reports about enforcement actions, city and police leaders told the Public Safety Committee the Grand Rapids policy prioritizes public‑safety responses over immigration status; the policy has been on file since 2017/2019 and will be part of the city commission packet for public review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Emergency management administrator outlines five‑year build of Grand Rapids program, cites THIRA and storm‑ready designation

Grand Rapids Fire Department reports multiple recent fatalities, outlines staffing and fleet plans

Grand Rapids police cite mixed crime trends, highlight co‑response mental‑health partnership

City confirms existing policy to prioritize safety over immigration enforcement; policy in commission packet