Early today (Sunday April 8th) Tawanna Rankin, whose daughter died from gunshot wounds, joined with other victims and their families for a Victim Awareness Walk in Clark Park.
The article also announces a Town Hall hosted by Commissioner Burton:
Community Town Hall meeting on April 21st at the Elmwood Park Church of Christ at 2001 Antietam.
Commissioner Burton is quoted extensively in the article:
Detroit’s gun violence, Craig and Burton said Sunday, often features mental health issues.. Burton said easy access to guns is a problem.
Two years ago, after 5-year-old Mariah Davis fatally shot herself with a gun found in her grandmother’s bedroom, Burton urged Detroiters to get gun free locks from police precincts.
“No child should have access to a gun,” Burton said Sunday. “No child should be struck by a bullet from a gun.”
The April 21 town hall will encourage residents to talk about solutions to gun violence in the city’s neighborhoods.
The solutions, Burton said, can’t come only from law enforcement.
Thursday, February 22nd 2018. DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Detroit
Downtown-Fort Shelby.
525 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
Detroit Police Commissioner (Dist. 5) Willie Burton Cordially invites you to a free Business Summit Networking Event.
Thursday, February 22nd 2018
4:30-5:30 PM VIP Reception with Hotel Tours
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM Networking and Presentation
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Detroit
Downtown-Fort Shelby.
525 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
International DJ Rodney Day
To Provide Sounds During Reception & Tours.
Event Valet parking only $5.00
• Moderator Nancy Grose & District Director Constance Logan from the Small Business Administration.
• CEO John Perkins of Legacy Development Group. Discusses how apprenticeship programs can improve employment opportunities for young people entering the workforce.
• VP of Membership Services Ivy Simmons of National Business League.
• Director Amy Rencher, SWOT Cities, Tech Town.
Business Owners: Kenji Williams of One Stop Property Management.
• Lauren Rivers. Rivers Realty Group (Invited)
• Lorne Greenwood SCORE
But Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton said state police should have acted sooner.
“It’s good to see that state police changed their policy, but it’s too late,” he said. “A 15-year-old lost his life; they should have changed that policy a long time ago. I’m glad Chief Craig has started an investigation because we need to find out what happened.”
Community hoping Project Green Light expands to residential buildings
News 7, WXYZ Detroit
Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton/Police Commissioner explained, “The same level of safety and protection that we offer the business community, it’s time that we shift gears and start offering that to our senior complexes and senior housing.”
Senior complex residents lobby for Green Light cameras
George Hunter, The Detroit News
Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton said Wednesday he would like to see the city match funds to help get Green Light cameras into senior facilities.
“Enough is enough,” he said. “We have commitments from the private sector to help get this done, but we’re looking for more from the public sector. There’s no question that Green Light prevents crime. The seniors at Parkview deserve this, as do seniors throughout the city.”
Police Commissioner Willie Burton also expressed concern too much overtime might pose a danger. “Working all that overtime is a temporary solution to the reduced manpower, and it’s working for now, but long-term, the officers won’t be able to keep it up because they’ll get burned out.”
Detroit has attempted to get Tasers for officers in the past however; the climate has changed according to Commissioner Willie Burton who said the recent statistics likely contributed to the unanimous decision to approve them.
Police Commissioner Willie Burton said Tasers likely will prevent injuries to police officers, particularly women.
“Some of these officers, both male and female, are 150 pounds, and you might have a guy who outweighs them by 100 pounds wanting to fight. I think we’ll see officer injuries start spiraling down after they get put into use,” he said.
Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton has taken an interest in gun safety and children after 5-year-old Mariah Davis found a gun last May under a pillow and fatally shot herself.
Burton resolved then that “no child should have access to a gun.”
In the months since, he’s distributed some 300 gun safety locks to Detroit gun owners and has taken on gun safety as a pet issue on the police commission.
“(The) Detroit Police Department cannot police stupidity,” Burton said. “It’s one thing to have a gun ‘put away’ and another thing to have it locked up.”
But gun locks are just one part of Burton’s strategy. Another is starting a dialogue with gun-owners about what to teach children to do when they find a gun, or their friend brings over a gun.
Burton said he’s handed out about 50 pledge cards for parents to give their children in which they sign a pledge not to touch a gun they find, but instead alert an adult or call the authorities.
Just as important as the signed pledge, he said, is that “… families are having this conversation about gun safety.”
“We’ve got to get back to the basics of sitting down and talking with our children,” he said.
Detroit Police Commissioner Willie E. Burton 