Flint police describe staffing gains, reactivated investigations unit and camera rollouts during budget hearing

Flint — Flint Police Department leaders told the City Council at a special budget hearing that recent hiring and reorganized investigative resources have improved capacity but that staffing and enforcement challenges remain.

Police officials detailed efforts to fill vacancies, reactivated a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) March 1 and described law-enforcement partnerships with the Genesee County Sheriff—s Office and University of Michigan–Flint public safety office. Chief Green told the council the department has moved to increase detectives and patrol staffing and that some hiring and reclassification efforts have already begun.

The matters surfaced during a public budget hearing held by the Flint City Council; council members and residents pressed police staff for specifics on Neighborhood Safety Officers (NSOs), enforcement of blight ordinances and use of funds seized in criminal investigations.

Why it matters: Police staffing and the NSO program are central to daily public-safety service and to neighborhood quality-of-life issues council members said drive economic development and resident retention.

Most important details - Staffing and hiring: Officials said more officers have returned and new hires were recently certified. Chief Green characterized recruitment and retention as improved from the prior year, saying, “We—re in a much better position at this time now than we were last year.” The department reported several recent academy graduates and four certified officers hired in the prior week. - NSO program: Police staff said the NSO unit operated most of 2024 with three vacancies; one new NSO started the day of the hearing and the remaining vacancies were expected to be filled shortly. Council members pressed for better coverage and for an additional NSO as a backup to avoid service gaps when officers are on leave. City staff said the department was budgeted for 10 NSOs and that the mayor—s proposed FY26 budget provides for 12. - Investigations and crime data: Department presenters showed homicide figures going back to 2021 (67 homicides in 2021, a sharp decline in 2022, and a slight rise to 39 homicides in 2024 as described in the presentation). The SIU was reactivated to full staffing on March 1 to focus on opioid/fentanyl trafficking investigations, illegal firearms seizure and nuisance-house closures. - Partnerships and technology: Police said they rely on a real-time crime center that provides data and intel analysis, and they plan to install about 30 additional surveillance cameras in targeted areas to help investigate violent crime and nuisance properties. - Asset/confiscation funds and use: A city staff member reported approximately $800,000 in a drug-confiscation account; Chief Green said that money has been used primarily for equipment purchases and overtime. - Community concerns: Several council members and public speakers urged stepped-up enforcement of blight and parking ordinances, better NSO coverage during afternoons and evenings, and clearer processes for when neighborhood safety officers report threats. Council members asked the department to provide more detailed monthly NSO enforcement statistics and to email additional data on unsolved homicides and asset-fund spending.

What council members asked for Council members asked for written follow-up on (1) the amount and expenditures from the confiscation account in FY24, (2) the number of unsolved homicides and detective caseload counts, (3) monthly NSO ticketing and activity reports, and (4) the schedule and location plan for the additional camera rollouts.

Department responses and limits Chief Green and other police staff repeatedly said staffing levels constrain the department—s ability to provide more community-oriented policing time: "Right now, all the time is obligated," Chief Green said, describing how officers are deployed from call to call. The department also said threats against NSOs are investigated and that supervisors and patrol units are available to respond when NSOs request assistance.

Next steps Council members and staff agreed to exchange follow-up information by email and to include staffing and wage considerations in upcoming contract negotiations. The council also signaled interest in monitoring the NSO staffing numbers and the camera installation schedule as part of its budget deliberations.

Ending Council members said they expect written follow-ups and budget detail from police staff before finalizing FY26 allocations and noted that the department—s recruitment, retention and technology plans will factor into negotiations about wages and positions.