To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Rochelle Brown, Prosecutor’s Office Operations Director
title
RE: Approval of the Peacekeepers contract
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorization to enter into and sign contract to bring in Peacekeepers International to Train 100 police officers and 100 community members in respect for authority combined with bias and sensitivity.
BACKGROUND:
The Peacekeeper Global Initiative is a Community Action Plan designed to help promote peace, love and unity in a community that is plagued by crime and gun violence. The organization has been in 32 cities in the US and 3 foreign countries over the last 15 years. Local citizens are recruited and then trained in: Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Conflict Resolution, Self-Defense, CPR and First Aid, Love Thyself and Respect Thyself, and The Proper Handling of People. The group is known by their bright orange sweatshirts that typically have a peaceful message like “I am Present for Peace” and they are given ID by the organization to certify they have been properly trained. The Peacekeepers offer many advantages to the communities in which they reside. Examples of this programming include Barbershop Talks, Police Mental Health Training, Mediation Sessions and Education, and Community Sensitivity Trainings. Of interest to law enforcement, the group offers ENOTA Training (Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority) and AT-ONE Training (Alternative Training Offered to Neighborhood Enforcement or Educators).
DISCUSSION:
Last summer, the group spearheaded a “Stop the Beef, Before the Grief,” initiative to combat summer violence in Flint. Prosecutor Leyton supported this effort and seeks to expand our collaboration. To that end, the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office has partnered with the Peacekeepers to combine ENOTA and AT-ONE trainings for the first time. The idea is to bring members of the community together with members of local law enforcement for real learning, where each side can get to know one another. As federal and local support for community policing and prosecution waned, the crucial link between law enforcement and community has suffered. We hope this training can help officers begin to regain some lost trust and give community members a chance to see officers as people. The goal is to train 100 officers from a variety of departments and 100 community members with a focus on juveniles. The total cost of the project will not exceed $50,000. The city of Flint Police Department has agreed to provide $10,000 towards this effort. The goal of this project is to increase witness and victim participation in the criminal justice process. The failure of witnesses and victims to follow through by appearing for court and providing testimony is the single largest factor in creating case backlog. We have heard for years that this is a by-product of a lack of trust of citizens in the community. Increased reporting of crimes will also assist in moving new cases through the system faster. The faster police solve crime, the more viable the more likely the case successfully prosecuted. This will also reduce retaliatory violence in our community which has been on the rise over the last few years. We have partnered in this project with ALPACT, the City of Flint, the Community Foundation of Flint and MSU to provide analysis of this training.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
No HR resources will be expended.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Money for training was previously approved is included in the Prosecutor’s High Crime Community Support Grant (RESO-2024-869). This $40,000 cost will be paid from account 2388-296.01-910.004.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
No county facilities will be used.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
No county technology resources will be required.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Expand the role of the county as a convener to enhance relationships that contribute to the growth of our community. Brings diverse people and groups to the table and embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. Promotes safe communities. Recognizes violence as a public health issue and the program promotes public health to create safer and healthier residents through violence reduction.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to authorize entering into a contract between Genesee County and the Peacekeepers Global Initiative, whereby the contractor will train 100 police officers and 100 community members with the goal of increasing witness and victim participation in the criminal justice process for the period commencing August 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025, at a cost not to exceed $40,000.00 to be paid from account 2388-296.01-910.004, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the July 16, 2025 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County.