{"id":505119,"date":"2021-05-13T17:35:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T21:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=505119"},"modified":"2021-05-13T17:35:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T21:35:23","slug":"does-james-craig-have-a-real-shot-at-beating-whitmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-james-craig-have-a-real-shot-at-beating-whitmer\/","title":{"rendered":"Does James Craig Have A Real Shot At Beating Whitmer?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoes-james-craig-have-a-real-shot-at-beating-whitmer%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=505119&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pjimage-2-e1620941007920.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p>One of Detroit\u2019s longest serving police chiefs is reportedly considering a run to unseat Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.<\/p>\n<p>James Craig announced his plan to retire on June 1 after eight years on the job, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/news\/local\/michigan\/detroit\/2021\/05\/10\/detroit-police-chief-james-craig-retires\/5020562001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Detroit Free Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m leaving in a good place, I love this city and I love this state,\u201d Craig reportedly said.<\/p>\n<p>Craig did not rule out a bid for governor, noting he is \u201cdeeply passionate\u201d about public service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have not made that decision. I am not ruling it out. There\u2019s an appropriate time and I will get past this and then I will come out with a decision,\u201d he said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickondetroit.com\/news\/local\/2021\/05\/11\/detroit-police-chief-talks-retirement-experience-next-steps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click On Detroit<\/a>. \u201cI am deeply passionate for public service.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"10.527075812274\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">NEW \u2013 Detroit Police Chief James Craig, a Black Republican who\u2019s been an outspoken defender of law enforcement in recent weeks, is prepping a challenge to Gretchen Whitmer and has met with party leaders <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/I86qn8RS5k\">https:\/\/t.co\/I86qn8RS5k<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/politicoalex\/status\/1390781700184190976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Craig began his career with the Detroit Police Department before joining the LAPD for 28 years, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wxyz.com\/news\/detroit-police-chief-james-craig-expected-to-announce-retirement-on-monday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WXYZ<\/a>. Prior to returning to Detroit, he worked as the police chief in Cincinnati, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>Detroit had the highest violent crime rate among big cities in 2019 while Craig served, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/local\/detroit-city\/2020\/09\/28\/detroit-violent-crime-leads-nation-flint-big-drop\/3536062001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Detroit News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019, there were 13,040 violent crimes reported to police which include murder, rape, assault and robbery. While overall the city saw a three-percent decrease in crime, it still led the nation, according to the report. The crime rate for every 100,000 people was 1,965 violent crimes, according to the report. But Craig blamed the crime rate to the increase in illegal guns on the street and people not handling disputes properly, according to The Detroit News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of our violence is argument-based,\u201d Craig reportedly said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen significant increases in that. It was up last year, but it\u2019s gotten worse this year, with a lot of stress related to COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Craig also blamed illegal guns, according to The Detroit News.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not talking about people who purchase guns legally and have a legal license to carry. Those aren\u2019t the people causing the problems. It\u2019s illegal guns.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Craig also blamed a backlog in the court system and issues with prosecution,\u00a0according to the Detroit Free Press.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m all for some kind of reform when it comes to bail, but let\u2019s use some common sense of judgment,\u201d he reportedly said. \u201cSome people are sociopaths, some people are violent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Craig also launched <a href=\"https:\/\/detroitmi.gov\/departments\/police-department\/project-green-light-detroit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project Green Light<\/a>, which has come under criticism by some. Project Green Light was created in 2016 and is a public-private partnership meant to curb crime. The police department partners with gas stations that use \u201creal-time camera connections with police headquarters as part of a ground-breaking crime-fighting partnership between local businesses, the City of Detroit and community groups.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Facial recognition is also used, with the system monitored by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and private partners.<\/p>\n<p>The city of Detroit says the project has been successful, with incidents of violent crime reduced by 23% at all participating sites and 48% at the original eight gas stations. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/04\/28\/garrett-soldano-michigan-governor-republican-gretchen-whitmer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">(RELATED: Small Business Owner Launches Bid Against Whitmer, Says She\u2019s Responsible For \u2018People Losing Their Livelihoods\u2019)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the best evidence is, first of all, crime reduction,\u201d Craig said, according to the Detroit Free Press. \u201cTake a look at our stats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some, however, claim it \u201cdisproportionately singles out communities of color,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/publicseminar.org\/essays\/detroits-project-green-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Public Seminar<\/a>. Others have also criticized it, equating it with a mass surveillance campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The program has resulted in two wrongful arrests, however. In one instance, Robert Williams was wrongly identified as a suspect in a theft and was arrested on Jan. 9, 2020 in front of his family and held for 30 hours before being released on bond, the Detroit Free Press reported.<\/p>\n<p>Williams sued, and Craig, the city of Detroit and Detroit police Detective Donald Bussa were named as defendants in the suit, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCities across the country have banned police from using facial recognition technology for a reason,\u201d Jeremy Shur, a student attorney with the University of Michigan Law School\u2019s Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, which is representing Williams, said according to the report. \u201cThe technology is racial biased, flawed and easily leads to false arrests of innocent people, just like our client.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Craig has taken other approaches which could appeal to some Republican voters. Craig once expressed support for arming teachers, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metrotimes.com\/news-hits\/archives\/2018\/02\/26\/detroit-police-chief-james-craig-advocates-for-arming-teachers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Metro Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it makes sense,\u201d Craig reportedly said. \u201cThese mass shooting incidents, they happen between four and six minutes. Police are notified, the fastest police will get there could be as soon as a few minutes to eight minutes, and so by that time \u2026 the carnage has happened, so this is about the business of mitigating a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Craig said teachers would have to go through a \u201cvery thorough vetting process\u201d and that not all teachers would be armed.<\/p>\n<p>Craig has also supported having more legal guns on the street to deter crime, which could appeal to supporters of the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI say that because of my experience now in my fourth city, seeing good Americans, good Detroiters that have concealed carry weapons and what effect that has had on deterring violent crime,\u201d Craig said, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/news\/detroit\/2014\/01\/police_chief_james_craig_more.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MLive<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Craig became Portland\u2019s first African-American police chief in 2009, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2021\/05\/09\/detroit-police-chief-james-craig-to-discuss-future-after-8-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Press Herald<\/a>. While acting as Portland\u2019s police chief, Craig created a text messaging system for bars to use in order to warn police and other bar owners about certain patrons, according to the Press Herald.<\/p>\n<p>He also reportedly ordered the police department to stop using Remington 700 sniper rifles because of their unproductive firing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to run the risk of having an accidental discharge like this where it puts an officer\u2019s or community member\u2019s life in danger,\u201d Craig told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2010\/10\/28\/craig-faulty-rif-les-taken-out-of-police-service_2010-10-28\/?rel=related\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Press Herald<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Craig was also praised by city officials for his commitment to community policing, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>Whitmer is likely to face a competitive election cycle, with a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/04\/28\/michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer-approval-rating-drops-seventeen-percent-coronavirus-restrictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">poll showing her approval rating<\/a> for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic plummeted 17% over eight months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of Detroit\u2019s longest serving police chiefs is reportedly considering a run to unseat Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.James Craig announced his plan to retire on June 1 after eight &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2278101,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pjimage-2-e1620941007920.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Does James Craig Have A Real Shot At Beating Whitmer?","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-505119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pjimage-2-e1620941007920.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Does James Craig Have A Real Shot At Beating Whitmer?","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=505119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505119\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=505119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=505119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=505119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}