When former Kalamazoo Township Police Chief Bryan Ergang first came to Kalamazoo, he admits he was skeptical about community-based alternatives to incarceration.
“I had a bit of a NIMBY mindset about KPEP at first,” he said. “I wasn’t convinced programs like this were the right answer.”
That perspective changed once he saw the program up close.
“When you see what KPEP actually does, you realize how structured and comprehensive it is,” Ergang said. “It’s more demanding than simply finishing a prison sentence. You have to do the work, follow the process, and accept that you can fail. That’s hard—but it’s also why it works.”
After years of serving on the KPEP Board of Directors, Ergang saw firsthand the organization’s impact and growing reputation across Michigan.
“KPEP is well respected statewide,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have it in our own backyard.”
From a law enforcement standpoint, he believes programs like KPEP are both practical and necessary.
“Most people we arrest are going to return to our communities,” he said. “Investing in rehabilitation and structured supervision is a better use of resources than simply cycling people through jail. KPEP gives people the discipline and accountability they need to succeed.”
He also points to KPEP’s community partnerships and initiatives like Walnut & Park Café as evidence of its broader impact.
“When you attend board meetings and hear the stories about people who have turned their lives around, it’s clear the staff truly care about outcomes,” Ergang said. “That commitment makes a difference for the entire community.”