Ann Arbor police chief emphasizes community policing, beat officers and partnerships

Chief Andre C. Anderson told a public sustainability forum that the Ann Arbor Police Department is prioritizing beat officers and community partnerships as part of a broader resilience strategy, describing a deployment model that emphasizes relationship building, problem solving and collaboration with mental health and supportive services.

Anderson explained that beat officers—on foot and bicycle and assigned to geographic areas—are intended to provide faster response and build trust. He described a downtown collaborative that includes University of Michigan Police and said officers work with community mental health and supportive services rather than relying only on arrests. "We never think that we could solve problems through arrests," Anderson said, adding that officers should be problem-solving partners with the people they serve.

Anderson outlined leadership and training priorities—succession planning, cultural competency and communication—and described departmental values framed around a growth mindset, care for service and relational approaches he called "grace." He said officers should be cultivated as leaders within their beats and that the department intends to balance tactical response with efforts to connect residents to services.

The presentation was framed as part of the city's resilience work; Anderson invited questions and said he would welcome further community dialogue about patrol strategy and collaboration.

The forum did not record formal policy changes or votes; Anderson's remarks were presented as departmental strategy and values rather than new regulations.