The Grand Rapids Police Department updated its Youth Interactions Policy on Monday.
The previous policy was made after officers handcuffed and arrested an unarmed 11 year old black girl last December.
Back in October, residents called on the department to change the policy after another young unarmed black girl was held at gunpoint. That was the second incident this year with black kids being held at gunpoint.
The updated policy made changes to how youth will be handcuffed, when a child will be put in a police cruiser, and when officers should draw a firearm.
Robert Womack, a Kent County Commissioner who represents Grand Rapids, said this revised policy could have prevented the incidents earlier this year.
“The last policy just seemed a little militant in its nature,” Womack said.
The updated policy also now asks officers to call Child Protective Services if they enter a home and find it necessary, which Womack isn’t a fan of.
“I was a little concerned with some of those agencies they put in there,” he said.
Womack said the city’s black community doesn’t have a good relationship with CPS.
The original Youth Interactions Policy, which was put in place earlier this year, was about two pages long. The revised version is seven pages.
No representatives from the city’s police department were immediately available for comment.
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