Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Police Chief James Craig announced recently that McDonald’s restaurants in Detroit are leading the expansion of Project Green Light, a security initiative to improve safety at neighborhood businesses.
Within the coming weeks, 11 McDonald’s restaurants in the city will be online, with four locations already being monitored at the Detroit Police Real Time Crime Center at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters.
“Project Green Light is in perfect alignment with McDonald’s philosophy of providing a safe and welcoming environment for our customers,” Marcos Quesada, Vice President and General Manager of the Michigan region of McDonald’s, said. “As a company, McDonald’s is excited about the possibilities this real-time, community policing effort will afford Detroit. Not only does it promote safety, it also promotes the growth and revitalization of local businesses. We encourage all of our owner-operators, and local business owners, across the city to learn about Green Light and how it benefits our community.”
Members of The Detroit Black McDonald’s Operators Association were the first McDonald’s owners to join Project Green Light. “Our members have served Detroit for decades. We’re committed to taking care of our customers, employees and our city,” Savarior Service, President of the Detroit Black McDonald’s Operators Association said. “We are setting a goal for all of our members to be online with Project Green Light by the end of this year.”
Participation in the program has more than tripled since it began in January with eight gas stations. Businesses joining the program have expanded beyond gas stations to include restaurants, party stores and other establishments.
Project Green Light now has 26 businesses online that have installed enhanced lighting and high-resolution video cameras that feed directly into a real time crime center at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. The McDonalds location on Grand River near Lahser Road is the first of a number of restaurants and stores to sign up for the program, including Mike’s Fresh Market, Starter’s Bar & Grill and the Turkey Grill.
Mayor Duggan and Chief Craig launched Project Green Light in January, pointing to statistics that showed 25% of Detroit’s violent crime that occurred after 10:00 p.m. happened within 500 feet of gas stations.
“The only way to fight the violence in this city is to employ true crime fighting strategies and initiatives like Project Green Light,” Mayor Duggan said.
“I absolutely believe Project Green Light is making criminals think twice before committing a crime at a gas station. Soon, they’ll think twice about doing it at a McDonald’s or any other Green Light business. We are going to continue to move this program across the city and create an expectation of safety.”
Chief James Craig says carjackings are down by more than 20% across Detroit and pointed to recent examples of how Project Green Light has been able to deter crime and quickly apprehend suspects.
- Last week, officers, acting on a 911 call and real time video surveillance at the RTCC, were able to identify an armed suspect at a Green Light gas station at Seven Mile and Hoover and arrest him. They also were able to recover the weapon he ditched as Crime Center staff observed him hide the gun as they monitored his activities.
- Earlier this year, a Project Green Light case caught national attention when officers were able to use crystal-clear video to identify and apprehend a female suspect who had shot at two victims at one of the original eight participating gas stations.
- The cameras also can serve as a deterrent, such as when two individuals in a dispute calmly left the scene shortly after noticing the Project Green Light signage warning of police monitoring real-time video surveillance.
“We are thrilled to have McDonald’s and other businesses embrace Project Green Light,” said Chief Craig. “This is a great example of partnership between the city, local businesses and the community that is making a real difference in our neighborhoods.”
McDonald’s owners like Jon Campbell say the investment in Project Green Light is already paying off.
“We’ve always had a strong relationship with our Neighborhood Police Officers and that’s made a difference. The safety and security of my customers and employees is a top priority, as is providing a welcoming environment,” said Campbell. “I can speak first hand to the benefits of this new program. Project Green Light has created an increased sense of comfort with all of my customers.”
Business owners can learn more about Project Green Light by visiting www.greenlightdetroit.org .
Project Green Light Partners Online
- BP — E. Outer Drive & Harper
- Citgo — Schoolcraft & Greenfield
- Fuel Zone — Fenkell & Evergreen
- Marathon — E. Jefferson & Alter
- Marathon — W McNichols & Wyoming
- McDonald’s – Grand River & Greydale
- McDonald’s – Grand River at Livernois
- McDonald’s – Mack Avenue & I-75
- McDonald’s —W. Vernor Hwy. & Cavalry
- Mike’s Fresh Market – Gratiot & Lappin
- Mike’s Fresh Market — Livernois & Cambridge
- Mobil — E. Jefferson & Alter
- Mobil — E. Jefferson & St Aubin
- Mobil — Fenkell & Greenfield
- Mobil —Grand River Ave. & Livernois
- Mobil — Joy Road & Evergreen
- Palace Party Plaza — E. Jefferson & Meldrum
- Perry’s Liquor — E. Jefferson & Newport
- Puritan Liquor – Puritan & Mansfield
- San Diego Party Store—E. Jefferson & Algonquin
- Shell—Mack & I-75
- Shell—S. Fort & Schaefer Hwy.
- Starter’s Bar & Grill — Plymouth Road & Faust
- Sunoco — E. Seven Mile & Hoover
- Sunoco — Morang & Roxbury
- Turkey Grill – Woodward & Melbourne
Coming Soon
- Speedy Gas Station – 8820 Wyoming
- McDonald’s – 22021 W. 8 Mile Rd.
- Mobil Gas Station – 1001 E. Warren Ave.
- Mobil Gas Station – 10833 W 7 Mile Rd.
- Hubbard Pharmacy & Liquor – 8935 E. Jefferson
- McDonald’s 15550 W. McNichols
- McDonald’s 13500 Linwood
- McDonald’s 1301 Springwells
- McDonald’s 8825 E. Jefferson
- McDonald’s 10400 Gratiot
- McDonald’s 9815 Grand River
