KDPS chief reflects on Kzoo unrest, one year later Vernon Coakley says transparency has been the focus this year and last updated 2021-05-27 19:01:00-04 KALAMAZOO, Mich. â Three days after the unrest in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo saw similar scenes of tear gas and chaos. Peaceful protestors gathered at the corner of Michigan and Park were dispersed by volleys of tear gas fired by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers after curfew had expired. Throughout the evening, then-Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley, promoted to chief of KDPS last fall, was attempting to reason with the crowd to disperse and go home, even kneeling with them at one point.