City issues statements in response to charging decision made by the Kent County Prosecutor
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The following statements can be attributed to the following City officials: Mayor David LaGrand, City Manager Mark Washington and Interim Chief of Police Joe Trigg.
The City of Grand Rapids has partnered with the Wisdom Center, 1333 Alger St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, to offer free counseling and mental health services throughout the Month of April to community members who would like support in processing officer involved shootings. Community members may schedule an appointment by calling The Wisdom Center at 616-419-8103.
Due to the potential for future litigation, the City will not comment publicly beyond these statements:
Statement from Mayor David LaGrand
"The Kent County Prosecutor has concluded his review and reached a decision not to file criminal charges in the shooting of Da'quain Johnson. I respect the independence of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Michigan State Police investigation, but I also recognize that this news is deeply painful for many in our community.
“The loss of Mr. Johnson remains a profound tragedy, and I continue to mourn alongside his family. My commitment to transparency and the highest professional standards does not end with this decision. I will continue to evaluate our policies and practices to ensure the safety of all as I remain acutely aware of the dangerous nature of police work and the split-second decisions officers must make in the interest of public safety. I appreciate the ongoing professionalism shown by our officers as we navigate this period of healing together.”
Statement from City Manager Mark Washington
"With the Kent County Prosecutor’s decision not to pursue criminal charges, the independent criminal investigation into the shooting of Da'quain Johnson has concluded. I want to thank the Michigan State Police for their thorough work and our community for their patience throughout this process.
“I understand this news evokes strong emotions, especially for those that have been directly impacted by this incident. There are some in the community who are grieving Mr. Johnson's death and the investigative outcome.
“However, my work – and the City's internal work – is not finished. I have directed the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA) to move forward with their own administrative reviews to ensure all department policies were upheld. In doing so, I acknowledge the high-risk environment in which our officers operate and the professionalism they continue to exhibit daily. My goal remains clear: to ensure a fair and just outcome for everyone involved while maintaining the safety of our city. I continue to encourage constructive dialogue and ask that our community remains united as we move forward from this incident."
Statement from Interim Chief of Police Joe Trigg
"Today, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office announced that no criminal charges will be filed against the officers involved in the February shooting of Da'quain Johnson. While this decision concludes the independent criminal investigation by the Michigan State Police, we remain mindful that a family is mourning and our community is still processing a very difficult event.
“As Interim Chief, I want to be clear that my priorities are the safety of this community and the integrity of the Grand Rapids Police Department. Now that the Prosecutor has cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, we will begin our comprehensive internal administrative review, consistent with policy, to ensure our high standards and department policies were strictly followed.
“Police work often requires officers to make life-altering decisions in a matter of seconds under high-stress conditions. I want to thank our officers for the immense professionalism they have shown while serving our residents through this period of scrutiny. We will continue to operate with transparency and hold ourselves accountable as we work to maintain the safety and trust of the Grand Rapids community."
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