Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
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State police step up presence in Flint
Posted by Kim Crawford and Bryn Mickle June 08, 2007 10:00AM
Categories: Breaking News, Crime, Flint
By Kim Crawford
kcrawford@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6242
and Bryn Mickle
bmickle@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6383
FLINT -- Amid reports of rising crime, Flint police are getting some extra help patrolling the city this summer.
State police will send in an extra sergeant and five troopers to target hot spots in the city, as well as boost patrols by troopers already assigned to the Flint post.
"This is big," said Acting Flint Police Chief Gary Hagler.
Although state police have helped out with special patrols in the past, Hagler said the new program is the biggest effort here yet.
Among the goals:
• Target guns and drugs through traffic enforcement.
• Use state police intelligence officers for long-term conspiracy investigations involving drugs and violent crime.
• A joint effort between state police, city police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to focus on gun-related crimes.
The state police fugitive team also will spend more time in the city looking for people wanted on warrants, while residents can also expect to see more state police helicopters hovering overhead.
The effort follows federal crime statistics released this week showing that violent crime in Flint jumped 13 percent last year.
Hagler said the added patrols and the recent reopening of the city jail will help reverse those numbers.
The state police assistance is also designed to free up Flint officers to reduce 911 response times and concentrate on criminal investigations.
The city's police officers union welcomes the reinforcements.
"As a union we watch these things with caution, but on the personal level we like the troopers and we're glad to see them," said Keith Speer, president of the Flint Police Officers Association. "We need all the help we can get."
Hagler and state police leaders planned to announce the moves
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