Jump to content

GR Police Chief Search Input

GRcitymgr

By GRcitymgr
in Grand Rapids Coffee House

Recommended Posts

GRcitymgr Crossroads

GRcitymgr

Posted
Posted

In the near future, I will announce the finalists for the position of Grand Rapids Police Chief. I am interested in keeping my finger on the pulse of the community conversation about the candidates. If you have comments or other perspective on any of the candidates, once they are announced, please post them here. Kurt K.

  • Replies 25
  • Created
  • Last Reply
DwntwnGeo Hamlet

DwntwnGeo

Posted
Posted
In the near future, I will announce the finalists for the position of Grand Rapids Police Chief. I am interested in keeping my finger on the pulse of the community conversation about the candidates. If you have comments or other perspective on any of the candidates, once they are announced, please post them here. Kurt K.
Count Basie Crossroads

Count Basie

Posted
Posted

I'm sure James Farris and Kevin Belk are good guys, but I can't for the life of me understand why we would pick someone from the GRPD. The GRPD needs change and it won't happen under guys who've been there for (20) years.

Rhino6885 Hamlet

Rhino6885

Posted
Posted

I read Farris's and Belk's comments in the press about doing community policing. I think this is a great idea, and I think we have discussed this before on UP. The question is: is this feasible in our current economic state? If it's something that they vow to get done, I'm all for either one of them. I also like Farris's experience in the SE side. This part of town seems to be our trouble spot, and I think most will agree with me. I spend a lot of time in this part of town, and would love to see somebody come along who can address the violent crime we've seen in the area in recent years, and he's been on the front line.

GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
Posted
I read Farris's and Belk's comments in the press about doing community policing. I think this is a great idea, and I think we have discussed this before on UP. The question is: is this feasible in our current economic state? If it's something that they vow to get done, I'm all for either one of them. I also like Farris's experience in the SE side. This part of town seems to be our trouble spot, and I think most will agree with me. I spend a lot of time in this part of town, and would love to see somebody come along who can address the violent crime we've seen in the area in recent years, and he's been on the front line.
  • 3 weeks later...
AlexPKeaton Burg

AlexPKeaton

Posted
Posted

That's what the mayor said on TV last night. It seems really stupid. The mayor basically said that both candidates were equally qualified, and that being the case the city should have promoted Farris because he's black. Kurt Kimball seemed to think Belk was slightly more qualified and chose him regardless of race.

In general I've liked Heartwell, but I think his comments last night were out of line.

eagle Whistle-Stop

eagle

Posted
Posted

You know, it's funny; when I read and researched the candidates I looked at their qualifications, experience, and vision for the department. Not once did I consider the race of the candidate.

It's unfortunate our mayor wanted a decision based on race rather than qualifications. Either we're going to be a colorblind society or we're not.

Rizzo City

Rizzo

Posted
Posted

I'd vote for that. At least appointments would left to the people to clear any air

Second Ward City Commissioner David LaGrand said one way to avoid similar problems in the future is to put the power of appointments in the hands of the mayor and commission.
Sailor Whistle-Stop

Sailor

Posted
Posted
I would agree. Based on what I've read, Kimball took the best administrator and made him chief and I'm assuming Belk had some input in his new deputy who appears to be a great "street" guy. Let the chief get chained to the desk and the bureaucratic paperwork and let the deputy work with the troops and the citizens out on the street. Sounds like a real win for GR. Unfathomable that Heartwell and some commissioners would publicly criticize the choice :shok:
Veloise City

Veloise

Posted
Posted

Kurt has mentioned, more than once, that he was privy to certain details and qualifications that were not made public. This is why we have a city manager--to manage the business of the city.

I can think of a glaring example where a strong mayor is a very bad idea.

Floyd Z Whistle-Stop

Floyd Z

Posted
Posted

It's stupid that something like this has yet again turned into a racail issue. I heard on one radio station that the DJ was thinking about boycotting the Police Department! LMAO! Good luck with that one. I think the right decision was made and the fact that the mayor says someone should have been chosen because he was black is rediculous. What if he would have said the cheif should have been white? Oh... well thats racism. One way to lessen the racial divide is to stop talking about the racial divide, its a self fulfilling prophecy. Kurt made the right choice.

Par75 Whistle-Stop

Par75

Posted
Posted

IMO, these public comments made by our city commissioners are disappointing and frankly, quite embarrassing for the city. I think the Press hit the nail on the head with this editorial in Friday's Press.

Time for the mayor and the commissioners to stop being so divisive - they're currently doing more harm to the city than they are good.

Count Basie Crossroads

Count Basie

Posted
Posted

Word is that Belk is a bible-thumper and a hot-head. I also heard he played a big role in that case where the women were fired and made to look like psychos. If you think about it, what do we really know about the guy?

eagle Whistle-Stop

eagle

Posted
Posted

Well apparently we don't know as much as you since you know the "word on the street." ;)

And if by "Bible Thumper" you mean a man who follows the principles taught in the bible; i.e love your neighor, honesty, equality, etc then that's terrible. I'd hate to have a man like that holding a position of authority in our city.

Veloise City

Veloise

Posted
Posted

If I word this carefully, it will not come across as folks journeying through a loved ones' terminal illness should not be selected for high-level positions. If that were the case, I would never have gotten the jobs I landed in 1997-2000.

With today's details about Mr Farris' wife, I think Kurt has shown a great kindness to James, and much astute forethought for the city and GRPD.

Veloise City

Veloise

Posted
Posted

Found in Wednesday's GRPress:

I don't know who is more of an embarrassment to their city, Mayor George Heartwell or Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick. Shortly after his appointment, the mayor cut the legs out from under our new police chief, Kevin Belk.

Amazingly enough, this was published in the Letters section...not the comics.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.