during the last time It's four and eight. I just think, Yeah, are you
upstairs? It's okay if couldn't
understand your query.
Banner, you,
please clarify by saying, hey Otto, right. Good afternoon,
everyone. Thank you for joining us in the in the room and online at this time, we don't have a quorum, but we will try and proceed as best as we can. So we'll call the meeting to order no introductions at this time, but we will go straight into public comment. We'll allow our staff just a few moments to get us prepared for that, and I think they might have an update invocation. I am so sorry. We will first start with our invocation. Which do we have that online or in person?
Online, sir, thank you, sir, yes, ma'am, I'm here. Can you hear me? Yes, sir,
Okay, I'm ready. Father, gracious. Father, we thank you now for your goodness, mercy and grace. We thank you for your loving kindness and tender mercy. Father, give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding as we conduct the business of the Detroit Police Department, Board of Commissioners meeting. Father, we say thank you now give you praise, honor and glory, keep us all safe and sound. Conduct the business with wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and we give you praise in Jesus name, Amen,
amen, amen. Thank you so much. At this time, we will now go into public comments, and if you could call out any recording
in progress first,
yes, sir, we have
three, two people in three people in the audience. Our first speaker will be Lieutenant Mark young, then Miss Deborah McCray, and then Miss Bernice Smith. Good evening.
I prayed about this for the last few days,
for two weeks, it was made that I made fun and laughed at somebody that's far from the truth. See, because I'm a leader, An Officer and a Gentleman,
I would never laugh. In fact,
it brought me to tears about what was talked about that I was supposed to laugh about. I respect people more than you know. I have empathy, sympathy and compassion.
But there's nothing greater to me than my profession,
that people that serve honorably, respectfully and powerful, and there's nothing greater to stand up for than people that will risk and give their lives for people that they won't know, to be stereotyped and categorized, to talk about other cities and municipalities, to not understand what the individuals that I represent, and on my great department and profession represents every day, heard people talk about police reform, police reform, police reform. Never heard the same people talk about criminal justice reform.
I would never make fun of anybody.
But here's what I do expect,
if you wear a cloth,
be decent.
I don't expect the person of the cloth to be one sided, prejudiced and biased. I represent some awesome people. My friends are on that wall in Washington. I buried my friends and until you sit in my shoes, be careful. You
okay, so we'll allow the one, this additional speaker, and then we'll, we'll open up now that we have quorum, good
afternoon to each and every one of you. Is a privilege and a blessing to be here. What I'd like to speak on the topic today is, is about property owners who hire people to do surveillance. The situation that I'm dealing with at hand right now is that surveillance is, I'm trying to figure out idea how surveillance is. Does it include having cameras in your apartment, in your bathroom, in your vents, in your air conditioning, where they watching you all through your entire apartment. You hit clicks, tones, red light shining like through my dome in my bedroom and my bathroom, you see a camera light through the vent by my toilet seat. What is the protocol for surveillance and how far do they go when they use equipment for surveillance? Are they allowed to not only put cameras in your apartment, which this is the second residency I move into, where they do this with their people they hire, but also how far are they allowed to go? And then when you sign up for your rights when it comes to property owners not keeping up their property, and this is the reason being, why they hire people to stop you from reaching out to get help, to contact the right resources. What's the limitations? Are they allowed to have cameras everywhere? Are they allowed to watch you like you're on a microscope every day, day by day, 24 hours, and when you call out, they stop your calls. And I'm like, Okay, what is the limitations to surveillance for property owners when they hire people in. Can anyone ask me for that question or questions at hand?
Ma'am, you if you want to continue using the remainder of your time? Oh, absolutely,
absolutely, absolutely. I had a situation also where I had company and guests, and they followed when I had reported in and filed complaint to the police. They, I guess, I guess the retaliation, they follow some of the friends home broken their cars for one individual, left receipt in his car for another one. They bust out all her tires for another individual. They follow them all the way home, and they contacted me because I attend faith group meetings. I attend different types of meetings, you know, pertaining to our US representatives, because I am a voter and I volunteer. I also attend meetings in my church faith groups. I'm also attend other organizations in Division, you know, where you give resources to vision impaired and handicapped people, as well as other people in need of resources. Of resources.
Thank you so much. Your time has expired, Deputy Chief bliss, is there any commentary you'd like to provide? Yes,
through the chair. Ma'am, we have an MPO right behind you. What I'd like to do, the short answer to the surveillance question, is, there should not be any. But what I'd like you to do is file a report with one of our MPOs, and we could start that investigation. Okay, thank you. You're welcome, ma'am. Thank you all. Thank
you so much. So at this time, we do have a quorum, and I want to acknowledge that we haven't yet done introduction of commissioners. So if we could do that as board secretary,
Commissioner woods, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner banks is excused. Commissioner Bill present. District Four. Commissioner Bernard, district five present. Commissioner Burton, that's five. District five present. I was talking about you said four hours of school. Commissioner Carter lady, Commissioner du wash here, Commissioner Hernandez here, Commissioner Moore is excused, and Commissioner Presley is excused.
Thank you. With that, we'll move over to item C, which is approval of May 1, 2025, agenda. Is there any objection to the agenda? Hearing? None that'll be passed.
Commissioner Hernandez, ma'am, you kindly declare a quorum. You have six present.
I will call the meeting to order, because we have a quorum. Thank you so much. So there's no opposition to the agenda. It'll move as as Is there any opposition or edits to the approval of minutes for April 24 2025 hearing, none those will be approved. As stated, we'll move over to item E, introduction of B, O, P, C, staff, chief police, elected officials and community leaders.
Persons registered as of today are as follows, board of police commissioner, staff attorney, Dante Goss, Felicia Tyson, Mary Barber, Teresa blossom and his Hayes armies here, Joshua, Johnny Underwood, Dr Francis Jackson, our parliamentarian, is via zoom today from the Office of Chief Investigator. Is Elgin Murphy for also DPD HR director Katrina Patillo is on Zoom for Chief of Police type medicine is Deputy Chief Mark bliss interpreters today or miss Chicago and Dr Stephanie Beatty court reporter, Don had a side. Henry Jackson for audio visual and Charles Henry Media Services video. Maurice overall for state representative. Tyrone Carter's office, free to Butler, second precinct Community Relations President LAN Davis, Office of council member Frederick Hall Mark young president, lieutenants and sergeants Association one Thomas president, Detroit police officers of America, Scotty Bowman, as well as former Detroit Police Commissioner, William Davis. And I know we have one other, which is Steven Grady Muhammad. All present today.
Thank you. Is there anyone from staff additionally that we want to recognize? I think everyone's here. I
think I miss. I didn't see. Miss alone. La Sonia Sloan from Chief investigators office. I think that is it.
Thank you so much. We'll move over to item to be able to see officer chair report. I don't believe there's a report, so we'll move on. From now on three, we'll go over to chief police report, which we have sitting in for Chief medicine, Deputy Chief bliss. Good
afternoon. I will start with the crime stats as of today,
for homicides, we are down 13%
in the 2024 we had 52 today we have 45 non fatal shootings. We are down 30% 2024, year to date, we were 160 currently we're at 111 for robberies, we are down 13% last year. Year to date, was 312 today we have 270 total Part One violent crime. We are down 8% last year we were at 3331
today we are at 3048
and then for carjackings, we are down 34%
in 2024 we were at 32 and today we're at 21
Moving on to Community updates.
Last weekend, the chief joined MSP, Colonel Grady and Sheriff Washington at the Parkman branch library to discuss prevention strategies to ensure every Detroit family has a safe and enjoyable summer. That was a Top Cops and Docs community discussion on safe, gun storage, violence prevention strategies, ninth precinct procedural justice and police legitimacy. On Tuesday, the chief spoke at the ninth precincts restorative practice community meeting at St Vincent and Sarah Fisher center. The meeting was an opportunity for the community to learn about procedures police use to accomplish their duties while also voicing their concerns. City wide day of community prayer. This morning, the Detroit Police Department held our city wide day of community prayers at the Detroit Public Safety headquarters and all of our precincts, all walks of faith were welcome to join us as we prayed for the city of Detroit. Coffee with the commander yesterday, Commander Matthew Phil Gen Z and other officers at the third precinct met with community members at sepia Coffey residents were able to meet with the precincts commander and other officers to ask questions, voice concerns and engage with the community. Sting gentlemen's club shut down yesterday, the chief, along with our officers and partners at BC, shut down the sting gentleman's club for allowing underage individuals into their establishment. Traffic enforcement at the Fourth Precinct. Also yesterday, the chief spoke with Channel Seven on our traffic enforcement efforts in the Fourth Precinct after a drunk driver crashed in defenses in the area of Toledo and Clarkdale. Last week, the driver was arrested. Over the last few days, officers in the area made more than 70 traffic stops and issued over 100 tickets. We continue to focus on traffic enforcement to make our roads and neighborhoods safe. Detroit police 52nd annual interfaith memorial service. Tomorrow, the Detroit Police Department will hold their annual service to commemorate and honor fallen members of our department at Old St Mary's Church recruiting efforts. This weekend, our recruiting unit talked to community members at the child abuse awareness at Hellman, Hellman recreational center and at the Parkman branch library, discussion on gun safe, storage, violence prevention strategies.
Woman in blue,
we have started to share the stories of the 19 nominees for the woman in blue officer of the year on our Facebook page. The public is invited to attend woman in blue on Thursday May 22 tickets are available at the at Detroit Public safety.org and then finally, an update on the cutting incident at the Renaissance Center on Wednesday, at 400 Renaissance Center, at approximately 6pm there was an argument between two women. The suspect pulled out a sharp object and cut the victim and left the scene. This was an isolated incident, and the and the victim and the perpetrator knew each other. We used our camera assets and got a picture of the suspect that we shared with media. We are confident we'll take the suspect into custody soon. If she's watched, watching or listening, we ask that she turns herself in. That concludes my report.
Thank you so much. I actually open up with some of my own questions. I appreciate that you covered very briefly and very lightly the incident, or just the case at the sting nightclub in Detroit or southwest Detroit. I should say I definitely need you to elaborate significantly more, and I understand that it's an ongoing investigation. We're still talking about our kids, though, and the allegation or allegations are quite severe. So is there anything else that you can provide in terms of what you're planning on doing, even outside of that single establishment, but any establishment in the city of Detroit
through the chair? Well, first and foremost, our Vice unit does inspections, so we are constantly doing inspections at all types of establishments, especially the license establishments. In this case, basically we had a call for service that there was possibly underage drinking. Since then, of course, our officers responded. They took the appropriate action. Since then, we have done a search warrant. We have taken some DVD players, it's my understanding, and the investigation is ongoing. You know, this is one of those messages that we want to send to all business owners that this will not be tolerated. This is not something that we will tolerate. And you know, we're talking about our youth and things of that nature. So I'm looking forward to getting this, getting more information on this investigation, but I can assure you and the board that this is something that Chief Bettison takes very seriously, and that our organized crime and our Vice they're out there. They're doing these inspections. So if there is anything going wrong, any impropriety, we're going to put a stop to it. And it's it's just going to be another sting where we shut it down,
a follow up to that. I think it's a good transition into just a pretty large scale, scale series of activations happening again in southwest Detroit for the Cinco and Miles celebration. Can you just expand a little bit? And I understand you're not going to share strategy and otherwise, but can you just give us some talking points, especially for the public, around what DPD is intending to do particular Fourth Precinct, and just a reminder of obviously having the right permits if you're going to do any kind of indoor or outdoor activations. I know that was an issue last year.
Yes, through the chair, as always, we'll be doing inspections. We'll be looking at that before the event. We do have a plan in place for that. There will be strong officer presence for Cinco de Mayo this, this coming weekend. Again, I don't want to go into the specifics, due to, you know, just public safety, but we always prepare for this. We're always ready for this. But for those businesses, please understand that we will hold you accountable for how you run your business. And if that's underage drinking, if that's allowing underage individuals in it, if that's not having the proper licensing, we will take the appropriate action. And I think we were very clear last year, and we'll be even more so this year.
Thank you. And I'll just add this because I know this to be I know this to be true. Personally, there have been ongoing conversations and meetings between the Fourth Precinct, the broader DPD team community leaders and organizations in the area, business owners and otherwise, residents that are in the footprint of where the parade is going to be. So there has been a lot of collaboration, which we definitely appreciate. I'll open up to questions, starting to my right, with Commissioner Burton, if you
have any then at this time, but maybe later. Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am, the chair,
Deputy Chief bliss. This is in regards to the young lady from Inkster that was found in Southfield London. Thomas, I've been hearing in the news that DPD was involved. Is, do you know anything about that? And
through the chair. We were involved. But I believe that that case was taken over by MSP, and that they are, they are currently on the and I do also understand that. I believe that there were two arrests on that case, but it's not the person was founded Southfield. It's my understanding it was a Inkster resident. So there's other jurisdictions involved, but we did definitely assist.
Okay, thank you. Thank
you, Commissioner Bernard, just
quickly, because I got a call about this, and you would know better than me, or most people, it's there was her understanding a young woman who called me that you could have a minor in a place, if you will, that serves alcohol or a club, whatever it is, as long as they are with their parent and not sitting at the bar. Is that true? It's been true for I think I've known about it for a long time, but then when I got the actual call, I said, let me check and see through
the chair. So I I also understand that, but, and I want to make sure that I don't give incorrect information. Thank you. So what I'm going to do is I will, I will talk to our vice enforcement to make sure that I give you the right but regardless if you're allowed or not, there's sometimes there are places that little kids shouldn't be at, and I'll leave it as at, at that. I know that that there may be certain laws that that allow them to do it, but I just think every parent needs to consider their child and the and the venue where they are. But in this case, I'll get back with you, with the with the correct answer.
The young woman who asked me is a dancer and has a child, I mean, about 10 years old, I guess, or something like that, and apparently, has always taken her child to work, but she can't leave the child alone, then she'd really be in trouble, obviously, because it's against the loft and leave a 10 year old. And so she would take her her child. And other women have taken and I don't know about men, but anyway, taking their children as well. They sort of stay in the dressing room, or they could sit at a table and drink water, Coca Cola or whatever. But anyway, if you would look check into it, I would appreciate it absolutely. Thank you.
All right, at this time, sir, did you have any No, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you so much. At this time, we'll move over back into oral communications, and we'll pick up exactly where we left off.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our next speaker will be Miss Bernie Smith, and then after Miss Smith, it'll be Minister Eric blunt,
good afternoon. Linda Bernard, how in the world can anybody possess their conversation to come to you and talk about their children coming to a bar? But that's something I like to see that mother. Anyway, I am very upset. I look at my news every morning at 11 o'clock, so I'm just about up, and I was so delighted to see my chief that was up front in this newscast in regards to this strip joint, I agree. I'm very, very happy, and the fact that we have the police interested in what's going on in the city of Detroit, besides the besides some of us, anyway, that took me back. You really took me back. Talking about the mama, I am so happy that we're on guard about what's going on in our city, because we have too much hijacking, shooting and anything else that these youngsters feel like they're capable of doing and thinking they're going to get away with it. I am sick as old as I am 92 years old. I could still feel as though we got a chance in our city to do the right thing, and we do have some people that are still available to help run the city right. And I want everybody under the voice of my voice to know things got to change. We can't continue to do the things that we're doing here in this city. I love my city. I love my police department, and I will always support them until they do anything that I feel as though that they do wrong. Now to my chief, I was so happy. I was at my family reunion, not reunion, but dinner. Sunday. We go every Sunday. We have about seven, eight of us. We all eat dinner together. I got a what is it on my phone?
Whatever you know what I'm talking about,
and I looked at it, I said, Who in the world? My phone rang and I live and it was a chief giving me kudos. In regards to Easter Sunday, I was so happy to think that here, a man that's in charge of a city as long large desires thought enough to send me a message of Happy Easter to me and my family. Also, I got a message the other day before yesterday? Well, the day of this incident happened. Thank
you so much that that concludes your time after a couple seconds. Anyway,
we appreciate my police department. You keep up the good work and don't you let nobody stop and we don't need no then whatever them things are in our city, we've got a decent city.
Thank you. Next speaker, ma'am, could you call out
Good afternoon. I'm Minister Eric block from Sacred Heart Catholic church right here in Detroit. Mother Bernice, but once we agree, how in the world can a commissioner talk about having a child at a strip joint. Just say, No, that's all it is. But no, you got to continuously sell things. Your services are something it is that you just want to know what you can do to to provide resources for you and maybe your business and your personal I don't know what it is, but it's on display. I've been saying it for years. If mother Bernie says it, and we agree, Lord, you know that that's a three way. That's that's holy trinity. Commissioner Hernandez, I think you're responding to this meeting today. Not a word, not a question, not a discussion on police officer misconduct. Why not? That's why we're here. This is not a crime Summit. This is not some kind of crime press conference, but that's what you let the police get away with. They say nothing. There's always something to be said about police officer misconduct. At least say how many police officers are still on suspension? What for did they serve their term? Did they get back pay? There's so many things you can talk about, but you continuously so show the corruption. And when I say in in private, I don't mind repeating in public. Last week, Chief venison and I had a private conversation, but I'll make it public. It was about facial recognition technology. I said, in the world, can people approve system and law enforcement that discriminates against people of color. How can you be that oppressive? Those will have exact words to Chief medicine, thank you.
Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Blunt, let me respond to your comment. As a police commissioner, I answer people's questions. I don't prejudice it with whatever thing, whatever I may think I asked the chief question, which apparently you didn't, you didn't like, but that's unfortunate, because your obsession was me, is just is unbelievable. I don't understand. I don't even know you. And every week, Linda Bernard, Linda Bernard, obviously you admire me, because otherwise you wouldn't be calling
that be on the record. But
throughout the meeting, every week about me.
Thank you Commissioner. Thank you so much. So if we could move over to the next speaker.
Speaker is Martin Gonzalez,
and then we'll go into zoom,
I'll remind the public that we have a two minute limit for comments and to be mindful of inappropriate language, especially directed at commissioners. Go ahead, sir.
I've been under attack for three years by a newcomer. Microphone, please. Thank you. Pardon me, I've been under attack for three years by a newcomer to the city. I've been a lifelong resident in the city of Detroit. I've lived on the exact same block for an eye on 60 years. In the last three years, three of my properties have been burnt, six properties on the block. Not all mine have been shot. There's a Shot Spotter in front of this individual's house. Did I have 30 caliber slugs that were taken from three quarters the way through my home. A dozen of my pets, not my pets. They local. Cats were destroyed. They were my friends. Houses were fire bound while there's still people in them, while sleeping, getting shot at. This guy used a air powered gun, not a normal fire gun, not a pellet gun. He's never sprayed me. He's shot at me. He's ran into my vehicle. He smashed my vehicle, and out of nearly 20 police reports in the TPO, I've gotten a check for $900 Who do I go to about getting PPO enforced? Um, he I've got ongoing harassments. I think my two minutes are up.
You actually have 34 seconds.
Six properties for my properties, three of which have been burned a dozen mutilated animals and dead animals ahead of each year, I've been incarcerated twice for no reason, no legitimate reason. Charges against me have always been dropped. I've been defending myself. I shouldn't have to defend myself at 62, years of age from a 30 year old man who wants to burn me out
DC bliss. Is there anything that you'd like to add
through the chair in regards to the PPO, Sir, have you had that PPO served? Yeah. Has it been served by by the court, by Wayne County, or because if a PPO, if you have a PPO, and it has not been served yet, that if, if officers are called to the scene, and the person is there, we have to give them an opportunity to leave, we cannot arrest them. But if it's served, it's in the system, then we can arrest that individual right there at the scene.
Well, not if they don't answer the door.
So might this be a conversation that we can take offline to get additional details
inside his house. When he hides inside his house? Well, the houses next to him are burning, flipping off the police and the firemen, they can't go in there without a warrant. I was told that the PBO was the warrant when he violated that they could grab him. So now, well, there's
there, sir. There's more to it, but I'll have our NPO behind you get your information. I've been waiting at my house for four days for an NPO, okay, well, there's two right behind you, sir, and one can take your information. We can start the investigation.
Thank you so much. Next speaker.
And can they report back to you on that? Because we tell people, can you please go through the chair? Oh, sorry, Mr. You've been recognized now through the chair. People, we say that all the time, and then we I've got letters and stuff back from people that say nothing happened. And can you let us know when you take when the chief's office takes the complaint? What happens with that complaint?
Well, a lot of times what happens is, is that we get the information on the individual. We know where it is. We reach out to those commands and we find out what's going on with the command. Has the command, reach out to the individual. What action have they taken? If not begin to take action and then follow up with us right after. So usually, by that point, that individual that comes and has some concerns, it's being addressed already. They're saying they're not being addressed. Well, in this case, people will make sure that we have a follow up. They're the citizens
and and, you know they matter. Understood, we'll
make sure we get a follow up. Ma'am,
thank you. Mr. Chair, we're going to go into zoom. Our first speaker will be Mr. Ru after Mr. Rule. It will be Miss Tara Brown and C AC. Scotty Bowman,
can you hear me clearly? Yes, we can, okay. Lisa Carter and Linda Bernard, listen up. Linda Bernard, we know what happens when you get involved with the situation, to ask questions, nothing, and then you act like you don't know what's going on when you know the full story. Kenisha Coleman, but I want to talk about something else. Today is day one of no murder mate. I said no murder mate campaign that I started, and I want Deputy Chief bliss. I want you to get word to the chief Todd medicine, Mr. Todd medicine that the campaign has started, the one I initiated in 2024 it started again today. Is day one in my 3pm call to the homicide unit. We have zero reported homicides here in the city of Detroit, no cost to service. So we off to a great start. Now none of you commissioners and very few of you police officers even know about the no murder mate campaign. No that. Neither does the Detroit City Council or the school board, but it's out there in the streets. I know because I'm the one that initiated it. Now what we need is a full blast from the mayor, the council president, the rest of the council, the Detroit Police Department, the board of police commissioners, and every citizen with an earshot. Pass the word around. No murder made. We don't got no homicides reported in the city of Detroit on May the first let's keep it going all the way to the end of the month.
And my name is Mr. Ru.
Thank you. Next speaker. You
Good evening commission. My name is Tara Brown. I just wanted to echo the sentiments of Minister Blount and Mrs. Smith, yeah, there would be no reason for a 10 year old to be inside of a strip club. And as a person who has worked in one, I never the entire time I was there, saw anybody bringing their child to that job. And unfortunately, yes, jobs are sometimes in short supply, depending on what your skill is. However, maybe you need to pick up another one that you would be able to work while your child goes to school and you could be home with them at night, as opposed to taking them into a strip club. This is not a family bar. This is not the local bar room the coroner This is an actual strip club where people are dancing naked. And I hope the person that told Commissioner Bernard that was seeking legal advice because she's being prosecuted. Speaking of prosecutions, those parents who didn't know their 14 and 15 year olds were in the strip club maybe need to be prosecuted either, because there are 101 excuses going around about why those kids were in the bar. Oh, we thought they were somewhere else. Well, you're 14 and 15 year old, when they're going out and visiting their friends at the friends houses, you should be dropping them off. You should be making contact with an adult. There is absolutely no reason for kids to be running out of the strip club that. That's my first issue. The second one, some of you all don't live where you're supposed to be living. I would hope you would correct these addresses, and I would hope that you are living in the districts that you are representing. And imma leave it right there. And those of you who I'm talking to know who I'm talking to also just please be respectful to your support staff. They are there to support you, from the board secretary to the parliamentarian to the staff that we don't see, treat them with kindness and respect because they are just like everybody else, and they are just like you. You all don't like being berated when we come in here fussing and complaining about what you don't do. So yeah, don't publicly come in here and fuss at them about what they don't do, because they're not public officials, and nobody voted for them. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Next speaker.
Oh, I see can you hear me? You may be heard. Okay, great, yeah. First of all, happy. May Day, Beltane International Workers Day, whatever you want to call it, everyone. And also the one thing I want to bring up here, oh yeah, what is the board of police commissioners for? Well, the biggest thing you're for is investigating those complaints and seeing that there are consequences for bad actors within the ranks of the DPD, and of course, that those who are good and doing their job, as most, almost of them do you know, are then freed from any shade of suspicion of having done anything wrong. So that's the idea right now. Though, everything's in limbo. We don't know for you know going back three or so years, we don't know who's been doing right, who's been doing wrong. We don't know if some of these officers are a threat to the public. We don't know if others are having this hanging over their head while they're doing excellent work and serving the community as well. They should all it's just left in the dark, and we need to hire more commissioners. I understand. We have more officers. We need to have more I mean, not more Commissioner, more investigators to investigate these complaints. And if there's not money to hire more investigators, maybe we need to take another look at where there is money being spent. I'm done.
Thank you so much. Next speaker,
Mr. Chair, the next speaker will be our last speaker in zoom will be former Commissioner William Davis.
Good afternoon. Can I be heard? Yes, you may. I
like to start out by also saying Happy May Day, that's a day that's important to labor, and it represents the importance of labor. Because far too often, as things have been going lately in this country, it's been, it's been an attack on labor. Of course, I'm retired, but I was a former UAW official and and a number of things, but I'm, you know, I'm a city Detroit retiree, and we need to be more appreciative of labor in this city and unions and what what it takes to get jobs done. Also, I was very dismayed to hear about what happened at that strip club, how you could have, you know, teenagers hanging out, drinking and doing things that teenagers shouldn't be doing. Hopefully there's a greater effort to make sure that that's not happening no place else. I'm sure it is happening someplace else, but we want to make sure that there's severe consequences for the owners and operators and managers of clubs like that. You know, they should not only lose their license, but they should lose their building, and that those buildings should be turned over and maybe become community centers or something. But we cannot allow our young people to be poisoned. That is poisoning them. They should not be there. They should not be witnessing what's going on in these places. And that's all I have to say, for the day, you have a great day. Happy May Day.
Thanks you as well. That'll conclude public comment. We'll move over to presentations to the board, which there are none, which then we'll move over to item six, before I hand over the reins, and that would be the report from board secretary, including announcements
just quickly May I just want to piggyback on what he said, it's not only May Day, it's Law Day throughout the whole United States of America. May 1 is Law Day. It's a recognition of lawyers, laws police, everybody involved in law enforcement. So I want to say Happy Law Day to everyone. Thank you for that. Our nation will
move forward to the report board secretary, including announcements
through the chair. The report today includes the two weekly reports facial recognition and shots better. There's also the memorandum from the personnel and training committee that was held on this week. Also, I asked commissioners to pay special attention to the invitations on the FY I included in your binders the May 9 and the May 12 dates for the recruit class graduation, as well as the ceremony for appointments and promotions. Also the announcements for the upcoming meetings of the board of police commissioners are as follows, Thursday May 8, 6:30pm which is next week, will be held in the eighth preset well Recreation Center, which is located on washer road and Detroit, our June community meeting will be held in the seventh preset, Sacred Heart activities building on regard Street in Detroit. That's on Thursday, June 12, at 6:30pm next committee meetings are as follows. On Monday, May 5, at 4pm hearing headquarters in the Woodward conference room is the personnel and training committee. Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 3pm citizen complaints committee, 4pm on the 13th is Budget Committee on that same day, Tuesday, May 13, 5pm is Policy Committee. All three committee meetings will be held in the Woodward conference room here in headquarters. That includes the report for today.
Great. Thank you so much. Move over to unfinished business, and I will gladly pass it over to our chairperson, Darrell woods. He was
doing a great job.
So all right, thank you very kindly. Let's do with the deal with the unfinished business. And good afternoon everyone. I apologize for my tardiness. Was in going through two accidents and stuff, so please excuse my tardiness.
What is a pleasure as it relates to the unfinished business
through the Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the recommendation of the chief of police, Todd Bettison, to promote to the rank of Lieutenant sergeant. Christopher. Is it Ray beer? Rob your rapier. Ray beer, before I finish the motion, I guess do we want to do it together or separate?
Parliamentarian is on Zoom, but her instructions for last week as well as today, is separate. Yes, I most dependents and then the project. Thank you. Okay?
Is anyone seconded or
Okay? Second by motion made by Commissioner Hernandez to promote Sergeant Christopher Ray bird to from sergeant to Lieutenant. And second by Commissioner Bill, any discussion, all in favor. Say, aye. Aye. Any one of those. The motion is carried with us the pleasure
I make a motion to approve the recommendation of Chief toddson to promote to the rank of Lieutenant Sergeant William Morrison.
Motion made by Commissioner Mendes and second by Commissioner Bell. Any discussion, all in favor, say, Aye. Aye. In one of those, the motion is carried. What is a pleasure,
I'll move through the chair to approve the recommendation of Chief of Police, Todd Benson, to promote to the rank of sergeant, and that would be police officer Briar Creech.
Um motion made to
promote Police Officer Brian reach Creech, from officer to Sergeant. Motion made by Commissioner Hernandez and second by Commissioner Bell. Any discussion all of Yes, sir, yes. Ma'am, yes, ma'am, okay.
I'm sorry. His complaint history is very disturbing. Okay, there have been a number of complaints that were sustained for criminal misconduct.
It's, it's troubling to me,
Commissioner Bill has his email bouncing back. So what do we need to do to make sure his system is working for his email to not
bounce back up there?
Yeah, all right,
I just have on readiness. With respect to this, I would generally, as do most of people on our board, of course, support the recommendations of the chief, and I'm a firm believer in the play and the fact that a leader should be able to pick their own subordinates, to pick their team, so to speak. And I rarely object to anyone or anything that the leader our our leader here, Chief Patterson, wants to do, because I think that's an appropriate he has to have the flexibility. He knows these people. We don't know these people. We're just reading paper so, but it's just very,
very disturbing, I think, under the discussion, tabulated during discussion, a COMMISSIONER MAY state to pull a name, individual individuals here, so the name would be pulled, and after the motion is voted on, The poor names may be voted upon Mr.
Mr. Chairman, yes, yeah, this is the parliamentarian. I apologize. I had cataract surgery today. That's why I'm not at the meeting. At this point, the name has been pulled. Okay? So that has already occurred, and so the motion to accept the chief's recommendation, which was made by Commissioner hand at Hernandez. And what I said in my email is that if you wanted to debate that you have to have a motion to accept the commissioners recommendation. So so Commissioner Bernard, I believe, is speaking in opposition or maybe making an observation about the motion to support the Chiefs recommendation, but the name has already been pulled, so now you're at the point of making a decision. Thank you, sir.
Yes, board, okay. You want
to take the vote. We want to Should we call the roll on this?
Because, all right,
so the motion was made. It was discussion that and by Commissioner Hernandez and second by Commissioner Bell. All in favor. Say aye. Anyone opposed? Say no,
and I'll hold as well. So
the commissioner Bernard, as well as myself, is in opposition. And so the yeas have it?
Yeah? What is the pleasure
as a final through the Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the recommendation of Chief of Police, Todd medicine to promote to the rank of sergeant Corporal Willie Robinson.
Motion made by Commissioner Hernandez to promote Corporal Willie Robinson to sergeant and a second by Commissioner bail. Any discussion. All in favor? Say, aye. Anyone opposed? The motion is carried, all right, and so is there any? I think there's new business. Okay, new
I simply would like to Chief speak to you so you can speak to the chief that it would be helpful if he has the resources to do it. Obviously we don't, if he would carefully monitor the performance of these persons their file. Is troubling, very troubling, but be based on the respect that I have for the chief and everything I'm going along with his recommendations. But but the candidate I spoke about and this candidate both have thick files that are very disturbing about their conduct as officers. So I'd like him to personally be engaged in terms of what they're doing as in their new leadership positions, maybe they've changed
through the Chair. Yes, sir, thank you. Yes, ma'am.
Okay, so let's go to new business. New business
through the check. Yes, sir. What is the pleasure?
I believe there may need to be an adjustment to new business, because these three items were and maybe we should ask our board Parliament parliamentarian, but these three items were moved forward out of personnel and training as a recommendation from so I don't think that requires a second. And I don't know if we should batch those together or separate.
They should they should be under committed reports.
There should be a category called committed reports, and that would precede new business. So you would have it's not unfinished business. It's committed reports. And even if the committees want to to produce to submit them all three, it is, it is the pleasure of the Board to divide if they want to. So you can present all three, but if any commissioner wants to to to vote on one separately, they can just ask for division
report I do is there, can I ask if there's a motion needed to move these three items to committee reports from new business. The
agenda has already been approved, and it was approved with those listed. I'm sorry I didn't pull I didn't print out the agenda, because I just just got home from the hospital before the meeting started. So you have the agenda that you've already approved so you you it's more complicated to change it, and it really isn't necessary at this point, my advice is, parliamentarian is just to go ahead and it's the committee's wish. You can the committee can, in fact, present them separately. You don't have to present them all together. You can present them one by one.
We're all there to move all three people. It's just internal. Thank
you. And if I could through the chair I You got me talking way too much today. I just really want to appreciate our board parliamentarian for still being on with us today under the given circumstance. And we hope that your recovery is speedy and and all the things that you want them to
be. Mr. Chairman, yes, yes, sir,
my concern is, what is microphone? What is holes? Professional Development, team, alignment, what is that? Something we got a copy of, something I
can explain, yes, through the chair. So this is the copy that OCI chief Warfield has provided for the past several weeks, I think it's been six weeks back, it's been included in our packet. I know the terminology can be confusing. This essentially creates a separate team that is going to be rotation based, which is going to allow supervising investigators, or senior investigators, rather, the opportunity to go on a development assignment for six months as an acting, essentially supervising investigator. So it's it's been cleared by HR. It was highly supported and recommended by them. It's been in our packet. I don't know that it's in our packet today, but it has been in our packet for several weeks. Yeah.
Okay, good. All right, go ahead, sir. So
then I'll move this as a again, as a committee report. There's a memorandum in your binder regarding the meeting that took place this past Monday, April 28 chaired by myself. In that's part of quorum. We had chairperson woods, along with Commissioner Lisa Carter, who were present. We also had as a guest in VIP, Commissioner Linda Bernard, who was in the audience, along with staff. We covered a series of items. I think there were at minimum 10 items that we covered, varying from obviously, the promotions and the proposals that you're seeing in front of you, but also handling needed business when it comes to the two vacant positions that we have as part of B, O, P, C, staff that we actually intend to fill before close of this month. So we set out a timeline and made sure that we do our due diligence, and that's why we're meeting next Monday, May 5, to ensure that we continue that process as effectively as we can. And we hope that the public will join us, or if you're not able to join us, that you at least watch these meetings, the recordings of these meetings, because they are available online, because I feel that it's really important for the public to be a part of that as well. However, there were three recommendations that came out of this agenda. The first was, and I'll batch these together unless there's any any sentiment otherwise. But the recommendation is to include a promotion senior investigator, Tiffany Stewart, to supervising investigator, separately, a motion to approve the assignment of senior investigator has an all Heller as professional development team leader, and then separate to that, to adopt the proposed professional development team alignment. So I'll move those forward, out of committee as a recommendation to this full body, and it doesn't require a second
by recommendation of the personnel and training committee to promote senior investigator, Tiffany Stewart to supervising investigator And to approve the assignment of senior investigator, Pa Janelle Hill Hiller as professional development team leader, as well as to adopt proposed professional development team alignment. Is there
any discussion?
All in favor, say, aye, aye. Anyone opposed, the motion is carried, and I believe that Tiffany Stewart is here, and congratulations to you. Let's give her a hand for her work and dedication, and we are instructing the Secretary to prepare a letter so that we can be able to get that to HR.
Thank you.
What is the pleasure? Motion to adjourn, motion made by Commissioner Hernandez to adjourn. Second, second by Commissioner Dewas, any discussion. all in favor say aye. Aye. And one of those, the motion is carried