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Chief reports June crime statistics, staffing updates and survey results at YPAC meeting
Summary
At the July 24 Ypsilanti Police Advisory Commission meeting, the police chief reviewed June crime statistics, explained a homicide was being handled by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, outlined department vacancies and hiring progress, and summarized a recent community survey showing generally positive responses to officer conduct.
The chief of police delivered the department’s monthly report at the Ypsilanti Police Advisory Commission meeting on July 24, outlining June crime statistics, staffing changes and the results of a recent community survey.
The chief told commissioners that most major categories in the June report were unchanged from last year but said robberies and larceny-from-vehicles were elevated in parts of the city. He said, "we did have a homicide that was reported to the city. But because of the way the homicide kinda unfolded, the Washtenaw County sheriff is handling that, and they they will be reporting that," and explained that the incident therefore would not appear in the Ypsilanti Police Department’s internal monthly sheet for June.
The chief said robberies numbered four for the month and that several downtown business burglaries were linked to two arrests. He described larceny-from-vehicles and frauds as citywide problems, citing incidents in the Washington and Hamilton corridor, the South Side and Michigan Avenue. On traffic, he said crashes remain high in the Hamilton/Washington corridor and noted differences can arise between the point of impact and the location callers report to 911.
On departmental staffing, the chief reported 10 current vacancies and that the department had advanced several candidates through hiring steps: three lateral candidates (two in background checks, one with a pending psychological exam) and four prospective hires identified for the October academy class. He described plans to promote internally to sergeant, saying promotion will reduce supervisory overtime strains but will temporarily create additional openings at lower ranks.
The chief also summarized a community survey distributed by the department. He said the department received largely positive feedback: more than 87% of respondents "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that officers resolved issues, about 97% rated officers as courteous and professional, and about 82% said they felt safe after contact with the department. He added the sample size of returned surveys was smaller than he would like and that staff would tweak distribution to increase returns.
Commissioners asked clarification questions about the vacancies and how increasing sergeant slots would reduce overtime; the chief explained additional sergeants would provide scheduled supervisory coverage and lessen the need for extended overtime when a sergeant is absent. Commissioners also discussed how the compiled survey data would be shared; the chief said the community-services staff member who compiled the results (Dania) prepared the slides and that the underlying data are public and can be provided to commissioners.
The commission approved the meeting agenda and the June 26 minutes by voice vote, heard the chief’s report and had no public commenters at the meeting’s public comment period. The meeting adjourned at about 7:40 p.m.
Less-critical details from the meeting: the department has no new use-of-force reports for the period presented, one citizen complaint was investigated and not sustained, de-escalation training for command staff is scheduled next week, and the department recently held a joint YPD/YFD open house that commissioners said drew steady attendance.
