KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – If there are any protests or demonstrations in Kalamazoo this coming year, they are going to be handled differently by the Department of Public Safety (KDPS).
Deputy Chief David Boysen says the department has implemented 30 of the 40 recommendations made by independent consults after the 2020 Black Lives Matter and Proud Boys clashes.
He says they are replacing their one-size-fits all policy with one that adjusts the response to the actual event.
“[Our] policies and procedures now really give us the flexibility to deal with those, so we are not dealing with each in a cookie-cutter type fashion,” Boysen said.
Boysen says pepper spray will only be authorized when the situation calls for it.
“Now, the use of CS as a dispersal agent will only be authorized in situations where crowd behavior is demonstrating active aggression or destruction of property,” Boysen said.
Some of the big changes will also include better communications before, during and after the events with organizers, stakeholders, the media, demonstrators and the public.
“So really improved communications throughout will have a much better outcome, and we’ve actually implemented a lot of these things already,” Boysen said. “If you recall, we had some protests earlier this spring.”
There are dozens of other refinements, everything from riot gear equipped with body cams to agreements with other local police units to adhere to the new policies.
Boysen says they want to run the remaining recommendations from the OIR Report past a community focus group before putting them in place, which should be done by spring.
— Copy written by John McNeil —
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