Proposal to put 'beat cops' back on the streets of downtown Ann Arbor put on hold by DDA

Newcombe Clark

Until last summer, a handful of police officers were assigned to walk or bicycle downtown. But as part of a restructuring of the Ann Arbor Police Department, those patrols were eliminated. Some say panhandlers have become more aggressive since the city pulled beat cops off the street.

Clark said the city has no current plans or timeline for reinstating the service. In fact, the city has proposed eliminating as many as 20 more positions in the police department starting in July to balance its budget, though City Council members are working to reduce that number.

Clark proposed drawing from the $750,000 the DDA set aside three years ago for funding the Howell-to-Ann Arbor commuter rail service. He said $335,000 of that remains unspent and likely won't be used before its expiration in June 2011 because rail stations have not been constructed, rail improvements have not been made, and millions of operational dollars need to be identified before commuter rail service is ready for implementation.

"This is not a request for funding," Clark said. "This is a reallocation of restricted funds that are likely to become unrestricted."

Tony Lupo of the Main Street Area Association spoke in favor of bringing back beat cops, saying they have been gone for too many months and the DDA should fund the positions to support a vibrant and safe downtown.

Clark said the service of the beat cops — or perhaps more accurately the service of an ombudsman to the downtown — has been sorely missed.

"Now I can't say yet if it's something that is needed, I can't say yet if it's something that we should fund," he said. "But in light of pending layoffs relative to the budget, I think it's important that we at least start building a contingency as we explore whether or not there is a need, and whether or not it's something that we should pay for, and what that may look like."

The majority of his peers on the DDA governing board quickly voted down his proposal today, though they indicated they think the idea is worth taking back to committee. The lack of cost estimates or crime statistics — and need for more discussion — were cited as reasons for not giving final approval to the idea just yet.

"I think there needs to be a lot of homework done," said DDA board member Leah Gunn. "There's a lot of data that needs to be collected and a great deal of discussion that needs to be held."

Gunn suggested the matter go to the DDA's Partnerships Committee for more detailed discussion. She stressed she's not necessarily against beat cops, but thinks the proposal needs more work.

DDA board member Sandi Smith, who also serves on the Ann Arbor City Council, said she's willing to explore the idea, but would not support taking back grant funding for commuter rail. 

Mayor John Hieftje, who is self-appointed to the DDA's governing board, called Clark's proposal premature. He noted crime is on a downward trend in Ann Arbor and said beat cops might not be the best way to police downtown.

"I think this is incredibly premature," he said, noting more dialogue is needed with the city's police chief. "If you're going to make a decision how to police the downtown, I think you should be talking to the police department."

"I think it's putting the cart before the horse," agreed DDA board member Joan Lowenstein, a former City Council member.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.