It’s been a full year since an innovative community-policing program called Project Green Light kicked off in Detroit. Residents, city officials, law enforcement and business owners all sing its praises, and rightly so.

Near the enrolled businesses, crime has plummeted by nearly one half and patrons feel safer. This has not meant an end to crime in these areas, by any means, but it has become a model of what a private-public-community partnership can mean for the community. The green light gleaming in the night outside these businesses is an indication of a connection with Detroit’s finest, with faster response times and greater security.

Back in January of 2016, eight gas stations became the test sites for real-time camera connections with Detroit Police Department headquarters. Later in the year, the program expanded into other businesses with the goal of improving neighborhood safety. Initial results show a near 50-percent decrease in violent crime for the initial locations. For all businesses in the program for at least six months, the average reduction is almost 20 percent.

Mayor Mike Duggan and Chief James Craig recently announced the 100th business to sign on, with more in the offing.

At the news conference, held at Seaway Market, the mayor said he plans to put a proposal before city council that requires businesses in Detroit open past 10 p.m. to be Project Green Light participants. Police Chief James Craig also announced that now 911 calls from Project Green Light locations will receive priority handling by the department.

Green Light businesses and their customers are benefitting from the program.

“Our customers feel safer when they visit our restaurant,” says Kevin Hayes, who along with his 12 siblings owns The Southern Smokehouse in Northwest Detroit. “Our area isn’t really that bad, but people know when they see that green light outside, they feel more secure and that’s a good thi

The real-time monitoring by DPD means faster response times, if there is ever an issue. People in the neighborhoods recognize the benefits of te added monitoring as well.

For example, Hayes says someone recently came into the Southern Smokehouse after a car was stolen nearby.

“Someone came in and said they noticed we were a Project Green Light location and wanted to know if our cameras caught their car being taken,” says Hayes. “Although our cameras didn’t capture what happened away from our property, a neighborhood resident thought to check, simply because they knew about our cameras and their connection directly to the police department.”

DTE Energy’s bonus rebates can deliver up to a $7,000 savings for qualifying businesses.

Another program benefit is a little special attention from DPD, Hayes says. Every day an officer comes by his restaurant to check the store log. The officer also stops by for a courtesy visit at closing time to make sure everything is ok. Hayes says he appreciates the special attention as an owner and for the neighborhood.

Errol and Savarior Service, who own 15 McDonalds franchises, were also early adapters. They installed systems in three of their 10 locations in Detroit proper shortly after Project Green Light began.

“From the original three, we are bringing five more locations on line currently,” says Savarior Service. “Several times a day officers come by each location and talk to our managers to see how things are going and they can let them know about any potential problems. Our employees and customers feel safer and that is a big plus.”

Recently, there was an incident at one of the locations. The police were able to resolve the issue in record time because they had quick access to what was going on.

“When we had an incident at one of our stores, the DPD interaction and response was awesome,” says Errol Service. “Since the camera feed went straight to the command center at headquarters, an alert was sent out quickly. In less than 12 hours, the person involved in the incident turned himself in to police.”

To join Project Green Light each business must first apply and then agree to meet certain signage, adequate lighting and other needed customer-friendly improvements.

When it launched, the $6,000 price tag for the cost of the equipment installation and monthly monitoring was a bit prohibitive for smaller retail locations and kept some businesses from signing on.

Private program partners stepped in to help.

Comcast Business offers greatly reduced installation and monitoring costs. For under $1,000 for installation, a Green Light business can get three external and one internal cameras for as little as $140 per month, along with high-speed internet service. The monitoring provides cloud storage for 30 days of video retrievable immediately by a retailer or the Detroit Police, if needed.

“We are uniquely positioned to support Project Green Light,” says Tim Collins, senior vice president of Comcast in Michigan. “We can make it easy for local businesses to participate in this important program by serving as a one-stop shop for the sale, installation and support of Project Green Light cameras and Internet connection.”

DTE Energy offers a bonus rebate of up to 60 percent for Detroit businesses who upgrade to its brighter, energy-efficient lighting and other energy-saving equipment.

“We have incentives for residents and businesses. We want all of our customers to save,” says Philip Guster, C and I electric program manager for DTE Energy. “Project Green Light is important to us. We believe in being good corporate citizens and want to be a part of the continued revitalization and growth in Detroit.”

The bonus rebates can potentially mean up to a $7,000 savings for qualifying businesses. Guster says already this year, ten businesses have signed up for the bonus rebates.

“I’ve had conversations with other business owners in the city and many of them want to sign up,” says Errol Service. “The lower cost option makes it more affordable for all types of businesses. It gives us the confidence the city, mayor and the police department are working within the community the make things better.”

Chief Craig says the success of the program is getting attention locally and around the world. “We have received calls from other communities across the country and around the world about what we are doing here,” he says, adding they even received a call from Brazil, which has interest.

After one year, the program seems to be on a solid footing and continues to grow.

“This won’t stop all of the crime, but it will be a deterrent,” Hayes says. “If there is a crime, hopefully the police can catch the criminal sooner rather than later.”

If you are out and about in the city, the Project Green Light participating locations can be spotted by the signage, decals on the doors and, of course, the green light showing customers and the community the business is enrolled in the program.

Businesses interested in applying can visit their website at GreenLightDetroit.org.

For more information on the Comcast Business discount, email: Pamela_Dover@comcast.com

Interested Detroit business owners can get more information on how to participate in the DTE Energy rebates program by calling 866.796.0512 (select option 3) for more program information.

 Photos by Paul Engstrom   

The 100 current Project Green Light Detroit Partners are: 

1. 7 MILE FOODS— E. 7 Mile & Veach St.
2. ASIAN CORNED BEEF— E. 7 Mile & Brinker Ave.
3. BARREL & BOTTLE PARTY SHOPPE — Dexter & Collingwood
4. BEL-AIR LUXURY CINEMA — E. 8 Mile Rd.
5. BENCHMARK PARTY SHOPPE — Joy Rd. & Prest St.
6. BOOST MOBIL — W. 7 Mile Rd. & Stout St.
7. BP — E. Outer Drive & Harper Ave.
8. BP — W Seven Mile Rd. & Greenview Ave.
9. CHALMERS PLUS — Chalmers & Glenfield St.
10. CITGO— Chalmers St. & Houston Whittier St.
11. CITGO — Gratiot Ave. & Beaufait St.
12. CITGO — Morang Ave. & Kelly Rd.
13. CITGO — Schoolcraft & Greenfield Rd.
14. CITGO— W. McNichols and Schaefer Hwy
15. CITY LIQUOR SHOPPE— Grand River Ave. & Lahser
16. CLARK— Morang Ave. & McKinney St.
17. CLARK— Rosa Parks Blvd.  & Glynn Ct.
18. CLUB CELEBRITY— Plymouth Rd. & Mark Twain St.
19. CRICKET WIRELESS— W. Vernor & Central
20. DOLLAR CENTER — W. Warren Ave.  & Winthrop
21. EAST TRACK— E. 7 Mile Rd. & Goulburn Ave.
22. EASTOWN LIQUOR— E. Jefferson Ave. & St. Clair St.
23. EXXON— Fenkell Ave. & Chapel St.
24. FUEL ZONE — Fenkell & Evergreen Rd.
25. GLASS BOTTLE SHOPPE – Greenfield & W. Chicago
26. GRATIOT FAIRMOUNT LIQUOR – Gratiot Ave. & Fairmount
27. GREAT LAKES BURGER BAR- W. McNichols Ave.
28. HIBBARD PARTY STORE – E. Jefferson & Holcomb
29. JANE’S MARKET – Charlevoix & Van Dyke
30. LINDSAY LIQUOR – W. 7 Mile & Gilchrist
31. MACK & BEWICK MARKET — Mack Ave. & Bewick St.
32. MARATHON — E. Jefferson & Alter
33. MARATHON — Michigan Ave. & 11th St.
34. MARATHON — W. McNichols & Wyoming
35. MCDONALD’S – W. 8 Mile Rd & Lahser
36. MCDONALD’S – Grand River  Ave. & Greydale
37. MCDONALD’S – Grand River Ave.
38. MCDONALD’S – Grand River & Livernois
39. MCDONALD’S – Grand River & Livernois
40. MCDONALD’S – Gratiot Ave. & Knodell St.
41. MCDONALD’S – E. Jefferson  & Crane
42. MCDONALD’S – Livernois & McNichols
43. MCDONALD’S – Mack Ave. & I-75
44. MCDONALD’S – Michigan Ave. & Braden St.
45. MCDONALD’S – W. McNichols & Winthrop
46. MCDONALD’S—W. Vernor Hwy & Cavalry St.
47. MCDONALD’S—Van Dyke & E. Outer Dr.
48. MCDONALD’S—Wyoming Ave. & Fenkell
49. MEXICAN VILLAGE RESTAURANT – Bagley Ave. & 18th St.
50. MIKE’S FRESH MARKET-  Gratiot Ave. & Lappin St.
51. MIKE’S FRESH MARKET — Livernois Ave. & Cambridge Ave.
52. MOBIL — E. Jefferson & Alter
53. MOBIL — E. Jefferson & St Aubin
54. MOBIL — E. Warren Ave. & I-75
55. MOBIL — Fenkell & Greenfield
56. MOBIL —Grand River Ave. & Livernois Ave.
57. MOBIL — Joy Rd. & Evergreen
58. MOBIL — W Fisher Fwy & Rosa Parks Blvd.
59. MOBIL — W McNichols & Southfield Fwy.
60. NEW MERCHANT FOOD CENTER— E. 7 Mile Rd. & Brinker Ave.
61. NEW QUICK STOP MARKET— Grand River Ave. & Vancouver St.
62. ONE STOP LIQUOR — Linwood & Pingree
63. PALACE PARTY PLAZA — E. Jefferson & Meldrum St.
64. PARKWAY FOODS — E. Jefferson & St. Jean St.
65. PAUL’S PIZZA— W. Vernor & Central
66. PELZER’S PARTY SHOPPE— Conant & E. Outer Dr.
67. PERRY’S LIQUOR — E. Jefferson & Newport
68. PRESTIGE LIQUOR STORE — Linwood & Montgomery
69. PURITAN LIQUOR – Puritan & Mansfield
70. RIVIERA AUTO SERVICE – E. Jefferson Ave. & Cadillac Blvd.
71. ROSEDALE COMMUNITY PHARMACY – Grand River Ave. & Warwick St.
72. ROYAL FRESH MARKET – Grand River Ave. & Glastonbury Ave.
73. ROYALTY DANCE STUDIO – E. Warren Ave. & Outer Dr.
74. SAN DIEGO PARTY STORE—E. Jefferson Ave. & Algonquin St.
75. SAVON FOODS–Livernois Ave. & Curtis St.
76. SCHAEFER SEVEN DRUGS— Schaefer Rd. & Hartwell Ave.
77. SCOTCH CASTLE PARTY STORE— E. 7 Mile Rd. & Brinker Ave.
78. SEAWAY MARKETPLACE— W. Chicago & Fitzpatrick
79. SHELL—Mack Ave. & I-75
80. SHELL—S. Fort St & Schaefer Hwy
81. SHERRY’S ON W. VERNOR—W. Vernor & Central
82. SONNY’S HAMBURGERS— Schoolcraft  & Evergreen Rd.
83. SOUTHERN SMOKHOUSE—W. McNichols
84. STARTER’S BAR & GRILL — Plymouth Rd. & Faust
85. SUMMIT WOMEN’S MEDICAL CENTER — W. McNichols & Forrer St.
86. SUNOCO — E. 7 Mile & Hayes
87. SUNOCO — E. 7 Mile & Hoover
88. SUNOCO — Grand River Ave. & Stout
89. SUNOCO — Morang & Roxbury
90. SUNOCO — Schaefer Hwy & I-96
91. SUNOCO — W.  7 Mile & Grandville Ave.
92. SUNOCO — W. McNichols & Lahser
93. SUPER DOLLAR STORE — Michigan Ave. & Martin
94. SUPER CLEAN COIN LAUNDRY — E. 7 Mile Rd. & Fairport St.
95. TURKEY GRILL — Woodward Ave. & Melbourne
96. UPTOWN BBQ — Livernois Ave. & Midland
97. VALERO— Linwood St.
98. VALERO— Schoolcraft Rd. & Greenfield Rd.
99. VALERO— Telegraph Rd. & W. McNichols Rd.
100. WONDER SUPER FOODS MARKET — Shoemaker & St. Clair St.

  Chief James Craig, Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Comcast, DTE Energy, Errol Service, Mayor Mike Duggan, McDonald’s, Project Green Light, Savavior Service, Seaway Market Place, Tim Collins