Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Big E's Sports Grille

710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026 – 7:00 AM

Founded in 1871, the Grand Rapids Police Department began with just eight patrolmen and one chief. Over time, the size of the force and its responsibilities have increased. Francis Pierce served as Deputy Chief of Police and had the distinction of being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in World War II. He is probably best remembered for shooting pigeons with his service weapon.

The 21st century has brought some criticism, including widespread protests following the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya by a police officer in 2022, soon after Eric Lindstrom assumed the leadership. Chief Winstrom said, “Show me a city that is high functioning, and I will show you a high functioning police department.”

His predecessor, Eric Payne, will make an encore return to us on 29 July to present "Historical Perspective of Policing in Grand Rapids: Past, Present and Future."

Invocation: Eric Nelson
Introduction: Paul Chardoul

Police Departments

1. “The police are the public and the public are the police: the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen.” ~ Sir Robert Peel
2. “Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” ~ George Orwell
3. I do have to draw a line in the sand. I already have one. It’s thin. It’s blue.” ~ Unknown
4. “And maybe remind the few, if ill of us they speak, that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak.” ~ Michael Marks