On Thursday, February 1, the Inkster Police Department held its first ever Chat With the Chief event to give residents an opportunity to meet and talk with the city's new police chief, Tamika Jenkins. The event was held at the Booker Dozier Recreation Center and included a community dinner and raffle and was supported by the attendance of members of four of Inkster's neighboring police agencies, including the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. Jenkins had previously served at the Inkster Police Department from 2007 to 2011, returning in in spring 2023 to fill the rank of police commander. Within six months she was promoted to the rank of assistant chief of police and just last month, she was appointed as chief of police.

About 50 Inkster residents attended the event. In opening remarks welcoming the attendees, the department's Director of Community Relations Walter Cooper commended Jenkins' efforts at community engagement and emphasized the importance of Jenkins' appointment as chief of police, adding that she is only the second African American woman to hold the position of chief of police in any police agency in the state of Michigan. River Rouge Police Chief Deborah Price, who passed away in 2018, was the first.

During the community dinner, Chief Jenkins talked with residents, hearing their concerns and sharing her vision for the city's future. "I think this is fantastic. She clearly has a vision that's going to grow this organization. She cares about the community and the community obviously embraces her so I think she's going to be able to move this organization to a very positive place. Of course she has the support of all her peers and that's why I'm here," said Ypsilanti Chief of Police Kirk Moore. "I believe that the police department is a resource to its community and we as public servants in public safety have to understand that we are not at war with our community. We're servants and when we have a servant mindset, it comes across in how we do business."

The Inkster Police Department will be hosting the Chief's Big Chili Cook Off on Saturday, February 17 at the Booker Dozier Recreation Center from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will be free to the public. In addition, the department holds Coffee With a Cop on the 2nd Thursday each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Street Health Care Clinic, located at 27155 Cherry Hill Road.

Inkster Police Chief Tamika Jenkins and Ypsilanti Police Chief Kirk Moore welcome Inkster residents to the Booker Dozier Rec Center for Chat with the Chief

For more information on the Inkster Police Department visit https://www.cityofinkster.com/214/Police-Department