Collaboration The Focus Of New Joint Police Effort In Washtenaw County

YPSILANTI (WWJ) - Crime fighting is reaching a new level in eastern Washtenaw County.

This effort centers around collaboration according to Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti.

While law enforcement officials say there has always been cooperation between the departments to curb crime; the new emphasis will be on policy reports WWJ's Marie Osborne.

The Eastern Washtenaw Safety Alliance will be in funded in concert with the participating agencies to expand crime fighting efforts.

"And you will see increased patrols, it may not necessarily be an Ypsilanti police car, it could be an EMU car, can be a sheriff's deputy's car. The redeployment of our resources will address things from what we call intelligence lead police."

DeGiusti says that this effort is more proactive; "Instead of just waiting for something to happen and then there's the need arises ... for your partners and managers ... to help you, we're getting ahead of that curve."