Chief of Police Elvin V. Barren
The City of Southfield appointed Elvin V. Barren as the Chief of Police on Monday, July 29, 2019. Chief Barren holds a Master of Science Degree from Bowling Green State University, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Central Michigan University, and an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Wayne County Community College. He is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) and a graduate of the Leadership in Counter-Terrorism Program (LinCT), sponsored by the FBI. Chief Barren is also a veteran of the United States Navy, serving eight years as an Operations Specialist.
Chief Barren served 21 years with the Detroit Police Department. He retired from the Detroit Police Department as a Deputy Chief. His responsibilities included five precincts, the Downtown Services Division, and eight specialized units (SWAT, Bomb Squad, K-9, Air Support, Harbor Master, Traffic Enforcement, Tactical Response Unit, and City-Wide Parks Detail).
Chief Barren was hired to implement change within the Southfield Police Department. As the Chief of Police for the City of Southfield, Chief Barren has instituted a variety of new initiatives and policy revisions. The current Use of Force policy is now in compliance with National Best Practices in Policing. The Governor of Michigan and various community leaders applauded Chief Barren for adopting a Duty to Intervene policy and encouraging other departments to adopt similar guidelines.
Chief Barren changed the direction of the department by instituting the Community Harms - Directed Policing Model. Under the Community Harms – Directed Policing Model, violent and property crimes remain a top priority. However, community input regarding harms affecting quality-of-life concerns get addressed with a sense of urgency.
This approach ensures that the department is creative at implementing strategies to address community concerns related to behavioral health, environmental issues, substance abuse, traffic accidents, and the youth. This model provides the Southfield Police Department with a framework to strategically allocate resources appropriately. The model is fluid, allowing it to address changes in community harms over time.
As an example, Chief Barren has established a Domestic Violence - High-Risk Response Team (HRRT). The HRRT is a multi-disciplinary group comprised of public safety officials, court representatives, school officials, elected officials, and non-governmental community advocate organizations. The HRRT is dedicated to identifying high-risk domestic violence cases, and the creation of coordinated community response, including prevention and community education.
Under Chief Barren’s leadership, the Southfield Police Department is now fully equipped with Body Worn Cameras and new In-Car Video Cameras. Chief Barren is recognized for his courageous leadership and constant determination for community involvement and outreach.
