On Oct. 9, 2025, during a live "Chat with the Chief" webcast, Director Dan McGinnis, director of public safety for the city of Ann Arbor, and Chief Greg Abrams discussed takeaways from a two-day gun-violence summit at the University of Michigan and said some programs introduced there will be coming to Berrien County.

Why it matters: The speakers said summit materials and state data outline where youth violence is concentrated and point to new or expanding programs and enforcement tools that local officials and community groups could use. They urged listeners to consult Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) data for county-level statistics.

Summit findings and programs: Chief Greg Abrams said he attended a two-day summit that included judges, prosecutors and other speakers who reviewed statistics and resources. "We had a guest speakers there, from judges to prosecutors, that went over those statistics and explained them in-depth," Abrams said. He said some of the programs introduced at the summit are “coming to our area in Berrien County.”

State data and age ranges: Abrams told listeners MDHHS publishes county-by-county statistics on gun violence and intimate-partner violence and recommended checking the MDHHS website for the data. In describing the summit’s age-related figures for youth gun violence, Abrams repeated figures from the presentations; the transcript contains an unclear age range. He characterized unsecured firearms as a likely contributing factor when very young children gain access to weapons.

Storage law and enforcement: Abrams summarized state storage requirements as discussed at the summit. "Public act 17 of 2023 requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises," he said, adding that the statute can apply when a minor is visiting and that owners who fail to secure firearms can face criminal charges, according to his account.

Extreme risk protection orders: Abrams also discussed extreme risk protection orders (commonly called ERPOs or "red flag" orders), saying they were a tool highlighted at the summit and that, in his description, they can be filed by nonlawyers, intimate partners or health professionals. "An ... extreme risk protection order can be actually submitted by the average layperson," he said, adding that physicians and intimate partners may also submit petitions in some circumstances.

Where to find more: Both speakers pointed listeners to the MDHHS website for the statistics and resources referenced during the summit. Abrams closed by encouraging listeners to consult MDHHS materials for details about local crime rates, grants and newly enacted laws.