Kalamazoo Receives $1.25M Federal Grant for Public Safety Expansion

The funding will allow the city to add 10 new public safety officer positions.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The city of Kalamazoo, Michigan has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The grant will enable the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department to add 10 new positions, bolstering their ranks as they continue to see improved crime statistics and take on additional responsibilities like behavioral health response and emergency medical services.

Why it matters

The additional public safety personnel will help Kalamazoo maintain its recent progress in reducing crime rates and allow the department to better handle the growing number of non-traditional calls they receive, from mental health crises to medical emergencies. The new hires will also support the staffing needs for the city's upcoming event center opening.

The details

The COPS grant will fund the 10 new public safety officer positions for three years, with the city providing an additional $125,000 from its general fund to fully cover the costs. Chief David Boysen says the new hires will take about a year to recruit, train and get up to speed, as the department requires extensive cross-training in law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical services. Boysen emphasizes the importance of finding candidates with the right attitude and values to handle the diverse responsibilities of the job.

  • Kalamazoo applied for the COPS grant in July 2025.
  • The city was notified the grant was approved in March 2026.

The players

Kalamazoo Public Safety Department

The municipal public safety agency responsible for law enforcement, fire response, and emergency medical services in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

David Boysen

The chief of the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department, who oversees the department's operations and personnel.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal executive department responsible for enforcing the law and administering justice, including through grant programs like the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) initiative.

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What they’re saying

“When we get to the scene, we don't just have to put up the police tape and wait for the ambulance to get there, our officers are rushing in and providing aid and first aid life saving measures.”

— David Boysen, Chief, Kalamazoo Public Safety Department (wkzo.com)

“If I hire you today, you won't really help me towards staffing until this time next year so it's a whole year of training before you hit the street, so that's a big significant investment. It's critically important that we get the right people in this job and I always said that you know we can train you on the skills but we can't train the heart so we gotta find people the right heart and we'll train the skills.”

— David Boysen, Chief, Kalamazoo Public Safety Department (wkzo.com)

What’s next

The Kalamazoo City Commission is expected to formally accept the COPS grant at their meeting tonight.

The takeaway

This federal grant will allow the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department to expand its ranks and continue its progress in reducing crime and responding to a growing number of non-traditional emergency calls, demonstrating the importance of securing adequate funding and personnel for modern public safety needs.