New approaches to public safety helping Jackson community

Reductions in gun violence and mental health hospitalizations are two benefits of the Jackson Police Department (JPD) using new strategies to keep residents safe. "We're more out in the community than we've ever been," said Crisis Intervention Clinician Nikki Winans.

In July, Winans started sharing her time between mental health agency LifeWays and JPD, becoming the department's first social worker. Winans responds with officers when there's a person that could benefit from crisis intervention. "Not every situation is going to require the same law enforcement response, so it's important for us to meet the person where they're at and find out what they need," Winans said. This extra level of care has been beneficial for domestic violence calls. "We create a safety plan for the victim to become safe. This has been a big help, especially if they have children," Winans said.

Within her first month on the job, the new social worker says JPD transported four people to the hospital for mental health crises. "Which is a very low number. And that's the goal, to decrease the inpatient stays across the board in the community," Winans said.

The social worker position is funded through JPD's Group Violence Intervention (also called GVI). GVI is a strategy that brings together law enforcement, local leaders, and social services to reduce gun violence. "This uplifts our community. It can change a person's life," said GVI Coordinator Cheryl Ragland.

After a shooting happens, Ragland responds with a four-person team to offer assistance and get an understanding of what is needed to break the cycle of violence. "This really helps prevent retaliation and recidivism. We've had lots of positive interactions and outcomes," Ragland said. The City Council funded GVI in 2021 using American Rescue Plan funds. Ragland, a retired Consumers Energy employee, says her drive to help the community brought her to GVI work. "It's a group effort to do this. Numbers ebb and flow, but overall the gun crime numbers are down," Ragland said.

GVI also works to build trust between residents and police through community outreach events. The Summer Safety Series, holiday food distributions, and gun lock giveaways have created numerous connections. "It's been a void that's now being filled. I credit Director Elmer Hitt, Deputy Chief Sergio Garcia, and the City Council for seeing the missing pieces needed to serve the community," Ragland said.

While officers are increasingly getting more training to assist with mental health emergencies, Winans is thankful this partnership has been taken to the next level. "It's okay to call and ask for help. Taking that first step is difficult, but you have people who are ready to help," Winans said.