Duggan, Hall call on lawmakers to create new police fund

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan's Republican House Speaker Matt Hall held a roundtable Monday afternoon in "great bipartisan spirit," to discuss police funding.

Mike Duggan and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp inside the Detroit Police Department headquarters. Photo: Samuel Robinson

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correctly reflect the correct percentage of annual sales tax revenues being allocated toward the legislation.

Republican House Speaker Matt Hall called on lawmakers to approve public safety bills which would send additional funds to the city of Detroit at a roundtable Monday with local law enforcement leaders, lawmakers and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Duggan urged the state Senate to “not play games,” over legislation sponsors call the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Fund. The legislation aims to create a new, $115 million fund assisting local departments, using 1% of annual state sales tax revenues.

Republican leader said Monday he supports increasing the fund to $115 million.

The fund would grant $18 million to the Detroit Police Department. Detroit police leaders want to use part of that money to support the city’s community violence intervention (CVI) program, known as “Shotstoppers.”

Hall’s office set up the roundtable at the Detroit Police Department Headquarters downtown Monday, which included community leaders and Duggan.

Media was allowed to listen in on the roundtable before taking questions about an hour into the conversation. Local lawmakers included state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit and Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn. Both are sponsors of the legislation. Law enforcement leaders present were Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington and Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison.

Duggan, who is running for governor as an independent, was complimentary of Hall, at one point acknowledging, “Such a great bipartisan spirit.”

The mayor told me after the event Hall is doing a great job. He didn’t ignore the political optics in his comments to media during the roundtable.

“You rarely see a Republican leader in the city in recent years, that’s starting to change in Speaker Hall,” Duggan said, seated next to Hall. “He’s been down here regularly and this is what we need. This city has become a major asset to the state of Michigan, keeping our young people, building the economy. But to have the speaker spend some time and then host such an important conversation with our surrounding communities — I just really appreciate you being here.”