Grand Rapids police shooting prompts questions about stalled efforts at reform

A white police officer killing a Black man in Grand Rapids garnered national attention Wednesday, as police released footage of the officer shooting 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya in the head. 

The shooting prompted some Michigan lawmakers to evoke the 2020 police killing of George Floyd and question why legislative efforts at police reform are stalled at the statehouse.

Despite Democrats and Republicans filing multiple bills more than a year ago that would largely ban the use of police chokeholds and no-knock warrants, among many other policy changes, lawmakers in the House and Senate have yet to vote on any of the measures. 

In videos released by the Grand Rapids police Wednesday, after the police officer pulled over Lyoya's car, he appeared to not comply with the officer's requests. The officer grabbed him and Lyoya resisted, according to the videos.

The officer repeatedly kneed him and appeared at times to briefly grab him around the neck. The pair fought over the officer's Taser before the officer shot Lyoya in the head. 

The officer, whose name has not been released, is on paid leave and is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Michigan State Police. No charges have been brought against the officer.

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State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, helped lead the charge on a bipartisan package of 12 police reform bills in 2021, introduced to coincide with the anniversary of Floyd's death. 

Chang worked with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Roger Victory, R-Hudsonville, on the bills. She said she's enjoyed working with Victory on the bills and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, has a strong interest in the legislation. 

But she suggested politics might be the reason the bills are languishing in committee. 

"We all are sort of aware of what some of the political dynamics are around issues related to law enforcement. However, my hope would be that that would not get in the way of getting good, bipartisan policy done and signed into law," Chang told the Free Press in a phone interview Wednesday, noting that it's an election year.

The measures — five from Republicans and seven from Democrats — cover a wide array of policing issues, from requiring officers to intervene if they see colleagues committing misconduct to requiring a state study that examines the best way to recruit and retain officers.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held multiple hearings on police reform bills in late spring of 2021, generally an indication at least some of the measures may have legislative support. Lawmakers heard from law enforcement associations and others about the measures, with promises to make tweaks to the bills. 

And then, nothing else happened. 

"It seemed the package kind of became of diminishing interest. I haven't heard of it coming back up again," said State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. 

Runestad sponsored a bill in the package that would largely prevent police from using chokeholds. Like Chang, he said he appreciated feedback received on his bill and worked on changes in an effort to earn the support of law enforcement and broader coalitions seeking police reform. 

But he said he hasn't seen Victory pushing to bring the bills back up since those hearings. 

"We were having hearings and then all of a sudden, it seemed to have got (on) the back burner," Runestad said. 

"It seemed like it was really on track to be taken up, and then I haven't seen or heard anything since." 

Victory did not respond to a message left Wednesday with his office. A Shirkey spokesman also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

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One measure in the package, sponsored by Victory, would require the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to create guidelines for independent investigations in the event a police officer kills someone. The measure also would require every local law enforcement agency to develop a policy that met the requirements of the state guidelines. 

Another bill, from Sen, Marshall Bullock, D-Detroit, would specifically make it a crime to, "knowingly and intentionally remove, alter, conceal, destroy, or otherwise tamper with evidence, including, but not limited to, a digital image or video audio recording from a body-worn camera used for law enforcement purposes." 

Other bills focus on police training and creating new ramifications for officers who use excessive force.

A series of comparable bills in the House, including a measure to require every police officer to wear a body camera, have also not received a vote in committee. 

All of the bills were filed by Democrats. In the Republican-controlled House, it's not uncommon for committees to not consider bills from members of the minority party. 

A spokesman for House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell, said the legislative leader would not comment on the bills before they were voted on in committee. 

The measures are all in the House Committee on Government Operations, led by Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden. In a statement, he said they would not receive a vote. 

“I don’t have any plans to take up these bills at this time. My focus has been on improving law enforcement by offering our local police departments the support they need to recruit and retain good, quality officers," Mueller said. 

He referenced a separate funding bill he worked on with Wentworth that would allocate more than $368 million to help recruit, retain and equip law enforcement officers. Both Mueller and Wentworth previously worked as law enforcement officers.

Democratic lawmakers emphasized the need to take up the legislation after the footage of the shooting was released. 

"While the family of Patrick Lyoya and the people of Grand Rapids grapple with the release of video documenting his killing, I want to remind you that the Michigan Legislature has done nothing to improve the laws that govern police," tweeted state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, listing some of the policy initiatives lawmakers have largely ignored.  

"We have put exactly zero pieces of police reform legislation on the Governor's desk." 

State Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, called Lyoya's killing an "execution," expounding on his frustration and anger in a video posted to social media. 

"You haven't seen reform at the federal level, you haven't seen reform at the state level, and you aren't seeing changes at the local level. Because it's abundantly clear that it's ok to kill Black men. To kill them in cold blood, to execute them," Hollier said. 

"Now is the time, not to say my thoughts and prayers are with the family, and as a community we mourn. Now is the time to say enough is enough. Now is the time to reach out to your legislators, to reach out and say, hey, this has got to change."

The footage prompted many additional statements from Michigan lawmakers, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the highest-ranking elected official who is a Black man. Both said they spoke with Lyoya's family and called on protesters to remain peaceful. 

“The Michigan State Police will conduct a transparent, independent investigation of the shooting. Then, prosecutors must consider all the evidence, follow the law, and take appropriate action on charges. Justice is foundational to safety, and without justice, we are all less safe," Whitmer said in the statement. 

“We must come together and build a future where Black Michiganders are afforded equal rights, dignity, and safety in our communities. I will never stop fighting to make Michigan a more equitable and just state.” 

Although both have championed police reform in the past, neither specifically mentioned the concept in their statements.

Contact Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.