Prior to the founding of the police department, the city used contracted individuals, with Henry Baker becoming the first watchman in 1856 who patrolled what is now downtown Grand Rapids.

[5] The first police headquarters consisted of a two-room office suite located over the Rice & Moore grocer at 101 Monroe Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.

[7] During the 1911 Grand Rapids furniture workers' strike, GRPD was involved in clashes during the Widdicomb Plant riot that saw officers fire into a crowd of protesters, though no gunshot injuries were reported.

[7] In 1967, the department moved to the newly built Hall of Justice, located on the site of the present-day DeVos Place convention center on Monroe Avenue.

[14][16] Chief Payne oversaw the department during the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests in Grand Rapids, when police were involved with clashes and responded to looting and fires.

[25] In 2015, the department began deploying Colt M4 semi-automatic rifles in marked patrol vehicles to supplement the shotguns that were already carried.

[26] GRPD officers carry a number of less-lethal options, including pepper spray, collapsible batons, and tasers.