Macomb's Leaders Work Together for Public Safety

Macomb County's top law enforcement officials are pledging to break down the "silos" between county departments tasked with keeping residents throughout the safe.

The officials, including Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, Chief Circuit Court Judge David Viviano and Prosecutor Eric Smith, came together Monday to announce the new Macomb MADE Safe Council.

The council, which uses the acronym that includes the first name of each official, formalizes an on-going effort between the four leaders efforts to find "efficiencies" in the criminal justice system to save money and better serve the residents.

"Most people feel safe in Macomb County," said Mark Hackel, who previously served as the county's sheriff. "(The council is) going to help me look at issues and enhance the efficiencies of the criminal justice system."

While the group is formally called a council, there is no set plans for organized meetings. The men will work together, along with department heads, other elected officials, community groups and residents to remove duplication in services, consolidate and continue to serve the 27 communities in the county in these difficult economic times.

Among the proposals which are being considered include:

• A central intake location for prisoners to be booked, assessed and arraigned if necessary,
• Central dispatch,
• Video arraignments,
• Consolidate courts into one building,
• Electronic files for the courts,

"We have been working a long time to make Macomb safer," said Smith. "Now we are going to make it more efficient."