DR AJAY'S PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE OF NOVI

THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT

Novi’s first responders put their lives on the line for the welfare of our city every single day. We have a responsibility to ensure that we hear their concerns and value their opinions. Despite Novi’s consistent growth, we are operating with fewer firefighters than we were 10 years ago. Recently, our city council approved one new position, which still sets our staffing levels below the national average for a department in a city like Novi.

TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, I WILL:

✓ BRIDGE THE DIVIDES OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT A taxpayer-funded study by ICMA Group in Washington DC one called the Novi Fire Department one of the most “dysfunctional” departments they had ever seen in large part because of the divisiveness among the ranks.  

I am proud to be the only candidate with the support of both the Novi Professional Firefighters and the Association of Novi Fire Fighters. I have heard their respective concerns about the direction of our Fire Department, and I believe we must bridge the divides that exist to make sure Novi residents and our firefighters are safe and protected at all times. I support our firefighters and I am ready to act on creating non-partisan solutions to these problems. 

✓ EXPAND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
As a physician, I use different treatments for different ailments, and our officers should have the same flexibility. Every scenario they face isn’t the same, so we must give them a variety of tools to address these especially complex calls. I will organize a commission of our city’s police leaders, public health officials, and local medical and mental health professionals to guide the creation of a Mental Health Response Division within the Novi Police Department. This division would partner mental health experts with officers to help de-escalate mental health crises and related calls throughout Novi.