GRPD Chief Winstrom exploits the memory of Breonna Taylor, while his department continues to harass, monitor and repress activists challenging policing in Grand Rapids

Last week, on the fourth anniversary of the police murder of Breonna Taylor, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom used the day to exploit the memory of Breonna and those fighting to expose and abolish policing in Grand Rapids.

On Wednesday, March 13th, Chief Winstrom submitted an opinion piece in the Detroit Free Press, headlined, I’ve worked on hundreds of search warrants. No-knock warrants do more harm than good. There is a lot to unpack in Winstrom’s opinion piece, but there are a few important critiques I was to make here.

First, I think it is important to point out that Winstrom, like all cops, is using what some refer to as Copaganda, which is a form of double speak that cops use to justify their actions. While Winstrom makes the claim that no-knock warrants do more harm than good, he repeatedly provides so-called exceptions in his opinion piece. Early on in Winstrom’s piece he states: 

“Now, let me be clear, search warrants are a valuable and necessary tool to help provide for public safety. Evidence of some of the most heinous crimes and arrests of the most violent criminals are often the result of the effective use of the search warrant tool. But immediate entry no-knock warrants do more harm than good and should be eliminated except in the most extreme circumstances.”

Ok, so what exactly is an extreme circumstance and who gets to make that call? We all know that cops get to make that decision, so what might be extreme to some could be normal to others. This is similar to the GRPD’s drone policy where City officials said that drones use that violated privacy or was used to monitor protests and target activists are instances of “extenuating circumstances.” City Manager Mark Washington said that drones could be used to monitor protests that aren’t permitted and are potentially interfering with roadways. Again, the GRPD gets to decide on what is extreme and what is not. Winstrom then gave several examples of where no-knock warrants are still “necessary.”

Second, Winstrom seeks to downplay the violence and traumatic realities with warrants. Chief Winstrom says: 

“The GRPD has transitioned to a safer “surround and call out” tactic. In the “surround and call out” procedure, officers secure the perimeter of the dwelling subject to a search warrant, attempt to establish communication with any occupants, and provide individuals the opportunity to leave the residence prior to making entry to conduct a search.”

Having one’s residence surround by the police, who are fully armed with multiple weapons, announcing they have surrounded your residence can induce life-long trauma for people they are targeting. This assessment contradicts Winstrom’s claim that, in using their approach to warrant searches, “it can prevent trauma and violence to all involved and avoids unnecessary damage to property.” And let’s be clear, the disproportionate number of people who have the cops surround their place of residence are poor people and BIPOC people. Plus, in those circumstances where the police are outside your place of residence demanding to come in can often result in people being shot or forced entry because the police heard something or saw people moving around. I would challenge anyone who says they would not be psychologically impacted by the fact that their place of residence was surrounded by cops who will justify taking you out if THEY determine you did or said something they felt was extreme or fell under he extenuating circumstances category. 

Third, the comment that Winstrom made about Breonna Taylor was nothing short of insulting. He said: 

“I am reminded of just how important this policy change is given that our Grand Rapids Police Department’s headquarters sits on commemorative Breonna Taylor Way — a constant reminder of the tragic impact police decisions can have on human life and public trust in police. Today is the anniversary of Taylor’s death. The Grand Rapids native was fatally shot when officers entered her Louisville, Kentucky, home with a no-knock warrant.”

I seriously doubt that Winstrom gives a shit about Breonna Taylor, especially considering how the Louisville PD has dealt with this case from day one. There is a scathing report from the Department of Justice accusing the Louisville police of unlawfully discriminating against the city’s Black population, as well as people with behavioral health disabilities. People might also do well to watch the Democracy Now! episode with an attorney and community activist speaking on the 3rd anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s murder.

It is also instructive that Winstrom mentions that the GRPD headquarters sits on the street that has a commemorative designation of Breonna Taylor Way. The only reason there is a commemorative street designation is because activist and family members of Breonna Taylor fought to get the designation. In fact, many of the same activists involved in that effort have been harassed, abused and targeted by the GRPD since the May 2020 uprising in Grand Rapids. 

Lastly, it is worth pointing out that on the 4th anniversary commemoration of Breonna Taylor in Grand Rapids, Winstrom was present, based on the media coverage. It’s bad enough that Winstrom dared to show his face at such an event, but what is even more insulting is that he used that event as an additional opportunity to promote his position on no-knock warrants. The arrogance of cops and of white people, like Chief Winstrom, to take up space at an event about a Black woman murdered by cops is disgusting. Such an event should be an opportunity to center the voices of those who have been most affected by police murders. White people, especially cops, should not only keep their mouths shut during such events, they should not attend an event that commemorates a victim of police violence.