Grand Rapids Police Department

The Grand Rapids Police Department is a municipal police department in the state of Michigan, United States.

Grand Rapids Police Department
Patch
AbbreviationGRPD
Motto"Professional, Progressive, and Responsive"
Agency overview
Formed1871
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionGrand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Map of the Grand Rapids Police Department's jurisdiction.
Operational structure
Headquarters1 Monroe Center NW
Grand Rapids MI
Officers294[1]
Unsworn members104[1]
Agency executive
  • Eric Payne[2], Chief of Police
Website
www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Departments/Police-Department

History

Establishment

The Grand Rapids Police Department was established in 1871.[3]

Headquarters Locations

To date, the GRPD headquarters has been in four different buildings; none of the previous sites remain standing today.[4] The first police headquarters consisted of a two-room office suite located over a grocer at 101 Monroe Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.[5] In 1882, the department moved to the intersection of Lyon and Campau.[4] In 1892, a new headquarters was built at the intersection of Crescent and Ottawa designed by notable Detroit-based architect Elijah E. Meyers.[4] This location was expanded in 1915 and occupied for over 70 years before being demolished.[4][6] In 1967, the department moved to the newly built Hall of Justice, located on the site of the present-day DeVos Place convention center on Monroe Avenue.[7] In 2001, the department moved into the current headquarters, a renovated Herpolsheimer's department store located at 1 Monroe Center NW.[4][7]

  • Original police headquarters located at 101 Monroe Avenue
  • Police headquarters located at the intersection of Crescent and Ottawa
  • Grand Rapids Hall of Justice on Monroe Avenue
  • Current police headquarters located at 1 Monroe Center

Fallen Officers

A total of fifteen GRPD officers have been killed since the department's first recorded death in 1895.[8] Fourteen of those officers died on-duty, while one was killed off-duty attempting to rescue an electrocution victim.[8] Of those killed on-duty, eight were killed by gunfire and six were killed in traffic accidents.[8]

Equipment

Patrol Vehicles

The GRPD utilizes the Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV for marked patrol vehicles.[9]

The department also utilizes a number of other platforms for specialized patrol functions, including bicycles,[10] segways,[11] and horses.[12]

Firearms

The GRPD issues the 9mm Glock 17 as its primary service weapon. The department chose the Glock in 2014 as a replacement for the previously issued .40 caliber Sig Sauer P229 pistol.[13]

In 2015, the department began deploying Colt M4 semi-automatic rifles in marked patrol vehicles to supplement the shotguns that were already carried.[14]

Less-Lethal

GRPD officers carry a number of less-lethal options, including pepper spray, collapsible batons, and tasers.[15]

Body Cameras

All GRPD uniformed patrol officers wear Axon 2 body cameras.[16]

References
  1. "Grand Rapids Police Department 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). July 25, 2017.
  2. "Eric Payne named Grand Rapids' next police chief".
  3. "Police Department". grcity.us. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  4. www.grcmc.org, Grand Rapids Community Media Center - (2008-01-28). "Booked and Fingerprinted at the Grand Rapids Jail". History Grand Rapids. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  5. www.grcmc.org, Grand Rapids Community Media Center -. "Grand Rapids Police Dept., 1875". History Grand Rapids. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  6. www.grcmc.org, Grand Rapids Community Media Center -. "Demolition of Police Headquarters". History Grand Rapids. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. "Before DeVos Place: Downtown Grand Rapids riverfront site has diverse, complex history". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  8. "Fallen Officers". grcity.us. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  9. "See the first new Grand Rapids police patrol SUV before it hits the road". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  10. "Grand Rapids Police bike patrol: Cruising downtown on 2 wheels". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  11. "GRPD unveils new Segways". Fox17. 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  12. "Grand Rapids police to patrol on horseback". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  13. "Grand Rapids police going to Glock 9mm, trading in .40 caliber guns". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  14. "Semi-automatic rifles for 59 Grand Rapids patrol cars in city budget". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  15. "Use of force training: Loud parties and dummies that won't listen". WOODTV.com. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  16. "More body cams sought in Grand Rapids, along with 100 extra Tasers". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
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