Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
The board hired Dorian Tyus as executive manager of policy, updated policies regarding facial recognition and police lineups, and removed from the payroll suspended Lt. Brandon Cole — caught on camera telling a protester to “Go back to Mexico.”
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
Good afternoon #Detroit !
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I will be live tweeting the Detroit BOPC meeting today at 3PM for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
01:31 PM May 30, 2024 CDT
The board does not have a quorum yet, so they are beginning with the invocation
Acting secretary Brown is going to deliver announcements. These can be found in the agenda
As they still do not have a quorum, in the interest of time, they are continuing to public comment
This citizen has complaints about her due process rights and her rights against unreasonable search and seizure
The citizen had concerns about her firearm being confiscated and now the dpd is explaining how one might get a confiscated firearm returned to them
Commissioner burden objected to the minutes but being unable to point out his exact objection, his objection was not heard, he subsequently voted no to accepting the minutes
Now we're moving on to the Board of Police Commissioner's officers report
The chair just let everybody know that there's going to be several closed sessions during this meeting, so you all should be ready for that as well
Part one violent crime is down 11% across the board compared to this time last year
The police department is currently focusing on cracking down on drag racing and illegal block parties. The board is being told that these parties can be very large and are sometimes leading to violence
The board is also hearing how there has been a rise in mental health related calls and officers responding to suicide threats or attempts.
Commissioner Hernandez has a question about the circumstances of a automobile collision that injured a police officer. The answer is not presently available
Commissioner Hernandez has a further question about underage ATV drivers.
Answer: there's a bounty on illegal ATVs and they plan to hold the parents accountable
Answer: there's a bounty on illegal ATVs and they plan to hold the parents accountable
Commissioner Bernard had a question about an officer-involved shooting. Commissioner Bernard is concerned about reports that a suspect was fleeing and subsequently shot in the back
Commissioner Woods is reminding the board that they are not there to praise the Detroit Police Department, and want to emphasize that that is not the purpose of this board
Commissioner Burton just characterized the police response to a protest in encampment at Wayne State as "violently suppressed" and asked why. The deputy chief did not respond
Chairman Pressley asks whether to plan regarding the pop-up block parties is to keep them safe or to disperse them?
Answer: at the moment it's a case-by-case basis , it depends on whether the party in question is unusually loud or disruptive or if there are reports of other nuisances
Furthermore, the deputy chief reports that the police department is working on crafting a block party ordinance that will help regulate and standardize block party requirements
Commissioner Bernard has a question about the status of the Detroit Detention Center.
Answer: I do not have a timeline and it is not the business of police department to hold prisoners. The commission should ask the sheriff's office or other relevant agencies
Answer: I do not have a timeline and it is not the business of police department to hold prisoners. The commission should ask the sheriff's office or other relevant agencies
Chairperson Pressley made an announcement that in regards to complaints against the police department, it is proving exceedingly difficult to get the complainants responder cooperate with investigations. And therefore many of the cases are labeled as "inconclusive "and shelved
He apologizes for putting the burden on the citizens but he emphasizes there is no other way to conduct an investigation but to speak to witnesses
The report having ended, the board now moves on to finish public comment
A public commenter voiced her frustration at the handling of her son's murder case. She says that she has been ignored by the police and that she is unable to get updates on the status of the case
Deputy chief Hayes responded that he was informed that she had already received a phone call from an officer, however, there is a new homicide Chief and DC Hayes said that he will personally attend to the matter
Chairperson Presley asked DC Hayes when the board can expect a report on that meeting. DC Hayes responded that they can expect it immediately after the meeting takes place
Pressley intimated that the deputy chief was attempting to duck the question and asked for a specific time. The deputy chief responded with 2 weeks
Commissioner Woods said that he is aware of the case and that he is pleased with the conduct of the department
So Burton just said the woman's case is important and that she has rights etc. Woods responded that he is troubled by the idea of people exploiting this woman's terrible tragedy and using it to work on people's feelings. It seems to me that that was a snipe at Burton
This public commenter is upset at the way. Commissioner Burton has been speaking to others, especially Commissioner Smith, especially when Smith is chairing the meeting. She emphasizes that as a woman raised by a woman, she believes that Commissioner Smith is owed more respect.
Commissioner Burton started by saying that all the citizens should be given more time and he feels that some are being unfairly favored
He continued by admonishing the commenter and accused her of assaulting him with her cane (The commenter in question is a woman in her '90s)
Chairperson Pressley interrupted, saying that these outbursts are counter to commissioner Burton's stated desires to give citizens more time to comment on their government.
This public commenter is saying over Zoom that citizens do, in fact, need more time to comment
The next caller wants to emphasize the importance of trauma-informed policing. Both for the citizenry and for the officers themselves
That's it for public comment and now they're moving on to unfinished business
Commissioner Moore is concerned that he was promised an update in a case relevant to the policy and says he has not received it
Deputy chief said he can get back to the board on that and that this is the first time he's hearing of it
The witness identification policy passed unanimously with no discussion
Moving on to new business with a Special Personnel and Training Memorandum
They're going to vote to hire a new candidate for a executive position
Commissioner burden is concerned that the board was not given three choices, as he recalls happening in the past, and rather is only being presented with one candidate to be hired at once
Pressley and Hernandez both responded, they're not happy with Burton. Pressley says Burton should stop maligning his colleagues and constantly suggesting that their actions and decisions are malicious and cunning, rather than straightforward and honest
Smith joined in, saying that the Committee in charge has worked tirelessly and with self-sacrifice to make this hire happen. Bernard joined in and said basically the same thing
Burton's coming out swinging, saying in essence that some members are uneducated and some are appointees.
Burton says that the board keeps settling lawsuits and wants more transparency and *lightly* implies nepotism is somehow involved
The board is now entering into closed session. I'll let you know when they come back out. They're going to be talking about giving administrative leave without pay but with medical benefits to a police officer
It was passed, and Comm'r Bernard is now voicing concerns about the officers family and urges the board to forbear until they can investigate further
Comm'r Bell responded to Comm'r Burton that the personal family circumstances of the officer is not relevant to the body's purpose, and that if that were a valid reason to not act, no one would ever be punished as "we all... have families"
The motion was brought to a vote. The roll follows:
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith yes
More yes
Woods yes
The motion passed
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith yes
More yes
Woods yes
The motion passed
They've gone back into closed session. I'll let you know when they're out
There out. Audio cut in suddenly during roll again but they have a quorum and the meeting has been called to order again
The roll was as follows:
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith no
Burton yes
More yes
Woods yes.
The motion passes.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith no
Burton yes
More yes
Woods yes.
The motion passes.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.