State Representative Mike Harris, R-Waterford, introduced legislation to establish a $115 million Michigan Public Safety Trust Fund to reduce violence across the state. The proposed fund would allocate resources to local law enforcement and community programs, emphasizing accountability and measurable outcomes in crime reduction efforts.
State Rep. Harris served 26 years in law enforcement before retiring as a sergeant and is a POAM/COAM member. He now represents Michigan’s 52nd House District.
Michigan Public Safety Trust Fund Will Prevent Violence
The information below is sourced from Harris’ opinion piece on The Detroit News.
A flood of violent crime is overwhelming Michigan communities, bringing wave upon wave of death, injury, grief and fear. The state needs to quell this raging crisis by investing in local public safety and violence prevention.
The Michigan House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved my bipartisan plan to do just that and send communities additional resources to support police, reduce violence and keep residents safe. Now, it’s up to the Senate to follow suit and approve this critical plan.
House Bills 4260 and 4261, which I introduced with Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, would deposit $115 million of sales tax revenues into a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund each year. The resources are set aside specifically for local law enforcement, violence intervention and victims’ services. Private donors could contribute to the fund, too.
Communities across our state clearly need additional support in the struggle against violence. Recent FBI data shows that four of the top 20 most violent cities in the nation are in Michigan. Saginaw is the second most violent city, and Detroit ranks fifth. Michigan’s overall violent crime rate is the 10th highest in the United States.
The Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund will direct resources where they’re needed most. Each year, $72 million from the fund would go to city, village and township police agencies based on each jurisdiction’s portion of total violent crimes — such as murder, assault and armed robbery.
These extra resources are not just blank checks. Our performance-based plan will measure results and adjust funding accordingly. Communities that don’t reduce violent crime will have their share of the trust fund reduced.
At the same time, local leaders and law enforcement professionals will have flexibility to determine what personnel, equipment, and initiatives are needed to root out violence in their area.
Communities could use the increased funding to recruit and retain officers as many Michigan police forces navigate widespread staff shortages. They could add more cars to patrol their neighborhoods. They could increase community engagement and open the doors of communication necessary for residents to share their concerns. These public safety resources will be used not only to arrest violent criminals when they strike, but also to deter crime and prevent it from occurring in the first place.
In fact, the trust fund will also allocate $1.5 million for a grant program designed to address the root causes of violence. Grants will go to communities seeking to reduce community violence through innovative intervention solutions.
As we make our communities safer, we must support those who have suffered from violence. Another $1.5 million will go to the Crime Victim’s Rights Fund to provide restitution for victims or their surviving family members.
On top of the support for municipal public safety, community violence intervention grants, and victim support, $40 million will go to county sheriff’s offices to support their essential role in keeping Michigan safe.
There is broad, bipartisan support for the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund from community leaders, law enforcement, and state legislators. The bills passed the House nearly unanimously last month.
It’s time for the Senate to send the bills to the governor’s desk and make the trust fund a reality.
The violence plaguing our state and harming innocent people demands a swift, effective response. By strengthening support for public safety, violence prevention, and victim resources, we will make our communities safer for Michigan families.